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From: hgw@julia.math.ucla.edu (Harold Wong)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Electrocution -- Is this possible?
Message-ID: <633@sunset.MATH.UCLA.EDU>
Date: 15 Mar 89 00:51:41 GMT
References: <7571@polya.Stanford.EDU> <7528@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> <19861@prls.UUCP> <2103@ritcsh.UUCP>
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Reply-To: hgw@math.ucla.edu (Harold Wong)
Organization: UCLA Mathematics Department
Lines: 17

I'm going to turn to another subject but almost in the same line of discussion.
I have a line tester consisting of a screwdriver (the probe) connected to a
neon bulb connected to a metal cap on the end which I'm suppose to touch. 
If the screwdriver comes
in contact with a hot wire the neon will glow.  How does this work?  I must be
"ground".  I obviously have a different potential than the hot wire but how?
I don't understand this.  Can someone define "ground"? Will the difference in
potential eventually equal and the neon stop glowing?  Do I recharge myself by
making static?  Since I am insulated (shoes, rug, etc) from earth ground am I
a floating ground?  What does this all mean?

                    
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Harold Wong         (213) 825-9040 
UCLA-Mathnet; 3915F MSA; 405 Hilgard Ave.; Los Angeles, CA 90024-1555
ARPA: hgw@math.ucla.edu          BITNET: hgw%math.ucla.edu@INTERBIT