What is the typical resistance of human skin in dry conditions?

• A. Approximately 10,000 ohms
• B. Approximately 100,000 ohms
• C. Approximately 1,000,000 ohms
• D. Approximately 5,000,000 ohms

Answer: (C)

The typical resistance of human skin in dry conditions is approximately 1,000,000 ohms. This value reflects the high resistance presented by dry skin due to its properties as a barrier to electrical current. The skin acts as an insulator under normal dry conditions, which is why a higher resistance is observed.

Understanding this resistance is crucial in electrical safety, as it helps to illustrate why skin can prevent low levels of current from passing through the body and leading to injury. Factors such as moisture, thickness of the skin, and the area of contact can significantly affect skin resistance, but in the context of dry skin, the approximately 1 million-ohm figure is widely accepted. This emphasizes the importance of considering the environmental conditions when assessing electrical safety and the behavior of electricity in the human body.