How much more DC current is required to freeze the body compared to AC current?

The correct answer indicates that it takes five times more direct current (DC) compared to alternating current (AC) to reach the same level of physiological freeze in the body. This difference is primarily due to how the body reacts to each type of current.

DC current causes a more sustained contraction of muscular tissue and is known to have a higher physiological impact on the nervous system. When DC passes through the body, it does not alternate direction, which can lead to a more severe and continuous effect on the tissues. As a consequence, it typically requires a greater magnitude of DC to induce freezing in biological tissues.

On the other hand, AC current alternates direction, which means that it does not consistently maintain the same level of muscular contractions or tissue response. The alternating nature allows for a different interaction with the nerve and muscle tissues, often resulting in a lower threshold for causing significant physiological changes, like freezing.

Therefore, the requirement for a higher amount of DC current compared to AC highlights the differences in how these currents interact with the body's electrical and biological systems. Understanding these distinctions can inform safety protocols and practices when dealing with electrical currents.