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Trump Finally Weighs in on Controversial Shark vs. Electrocution Debate (whowhatwhy.org)

submitted 4 months ago by FlyingSquid to c/nottheonion

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In a soliloquy on batteries for electric vehicles, including ships, he pondered what would happen if such a boat were to sink and the battery would submerge.

...

“It must be because of MIT, my relationship with MIT, very smart, I say, what would happen if the boat sank from its weight, and you have this tremendously powerful battery, and the battery is now underwater and there’s a shark that’s approximately 10 yards over there,” he said as MAGA supporters listened intently. “By the way, a lot of shark attacks lately. Did you notice this? A lot of sha…”

...

“So there is a shark 10 yards from the boat, ten yards… or here,” he said. “Do I get electrocuted if the boat is sinking, water goes over the battery, the boat is sinking? Do I stay on top of the boat and get electrocuted, or do I jump over by the shark and not get electrocuted?”

...

“He didn’t know. He said: ‘Nobody has ever asked me that question.’ I said, ‘I think it’s a good question. I think there is a lot of electric current coming through that water,’” Trump said. “But you know what I would do if there is a shark or you get electrocuted? I’ll take electrocution every single time.* I’m not getting near the shark.”

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago (17 children)

This is probably a stupid question but would a battery even electrocute you in the water?

[–] FlyingSquid 9 points 4 months ago (11 children)

In the ocean? No. In the bathtub? Depends on the battery and what's attached to it when it hits the water, I guess. A car battery with the jumper cables on it thrown into a large enough bathtub to hold it? I wouldn't get in there.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (10 children)

No expert but do have an electronics degree and somee EE theory courses later in life. I don't think much would happen. Don't be a direct bridge across the terminals yourself and I don't think there will be much of an issue being in the same body of water as a battery with even close proximity.

But I could be very wrong.

[–] brianorca 5 points 4 months ago

People do sometimes get electrocuted in fresh water, but only when a boat in a marina has shore power (120V) and a bad connection of the hot side into the water. This can only occur with shore power, because otherwise the circuit can't leave to boat. It also doesn't occur in salt water because salt conducts electricity better than the human body.

An EV battery might have enough voltage, but the current would prefer to travel directly from - to + on the battery itself. You would have to literally get in the way of that for it to affect your body. Most situations where that could happen, such as touching the electrodes directly, would be almost as dangerous even when you are dry. And again, salt water would conduct it much better than your body, therefore bypassing you, as long as you don't get in the way.

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