Red Seal Electrician Practice
Safety and work practicesQuestion 587 of 1506

Why can electric shock cause burns deep inside the body that a flame burn would not?

  1. The current only travels along the surface of the skin.
  2. The body resistance is zero, so no heat is made at the skin.
  3. The current heats tissue below the skin, even internal organs.
  4. Electric burns are caused by chemicals in the blood.
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Correct answer: The current heats tissue below the skin, even internal organs.

Resistance in the body turns the current into heat all along the current path, not only at the skin.

Source: Lessons in Electric Circuits I: DC (Kuphaldt), 3.2: Physiological Effects of Electricity

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Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026