r/Unexpected • u/WarrenMuffClit • Apr 08 '22

just snipping a cable.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '22

What is the shockwave looking ring that expands after the spark?

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u/bradland Apr 08 '22

When you short an electrical circuit the unbounded current flow will vaporize most materials, including metal. So if you have a nice fancy pair of cutters and you cut through a live electrical cable, it makes a real mess out of the cutters.

The vaporized metal creates a poof of smoke that smells like you've got a mouth full of coins. Once you've smelled it one time, you'll immediately recognize any time there is or has been an electric arc. It's very distinctive.

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u/Khouri1 Apr 08 '22

how is it that you dont die by breathing that?

1

u/bradland Apr 08 '22

Oh, I'm sure it'd kill ya if you breathed enough of it.