Electricity And Water

 November 15th, 2011
physics
If someone throws an extension cord into the water right next to me, I understand I'm probably going to be electrocuted. If they throw it in the water a mile away, I'm probably not. What determines the dangerous distance from the power cord? Is it a sphere with its center at the cord's end and its radius the distance to the ground? Is it different in salt water? Does the voltage, or the capacity of the wire matter? Is DC (lightning) different?

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