Electronic – How to calculate the safe AC frequency at high Voltages

acarcelectricityfrequencyvoltage

If someone wanted to build some kind of machine which produces HUGE and completely safe electric arcs, how would you calculate the frequency of the AC current in relation to Volt to make it safe?
Why is it extremely dangerous to produce arcs in high voltages in DC (assuming the electricity flows through your body) but also relatively safe if it is done with AC (assuming you have adjusted the frequency of the circuit to make it safe)? I am very sorry if this question is a duplicate, but I couldn't find anything in the internet.

Best Answer

Humans in shoes have about 1,000 picoFarad capacintace to Ground, thru the shoes.

C = Eo * Er * AREA/dISTANCE

C = 45PF/METER * Er * (10cm * 30cm) / 1cm * 1meter/100cm

C = 45e-12 * (Er = 5 for shoes) * 300cm * 1meter/100cm ~~~ 700 picoFarad

Now lets assume the frequency is 1MHz and the Voltage is 100,00 volts.

The displacement current, generated as electric fields change and charges rush around and back and forth to balance those fields, is

I = C * dV/dT

I = 700pF * [ 100,000 volts * d(1MHz)/dT ]

I = 700pF * [100,000 * (2*pi * 1MHz)] = 700pF * 100,000 * 6.28e+6 radians/second

I = 700e-12 * 1e+5 * 6e+6 ~~~ 4,000 * 1e(-12 +5 +6) = 400 amps thru the point of entry of the arc, thru your body, and exiting your shoes.