High Voltage

According to Merriam-Webster, high voltage usually means electrical energy at voltages high enough to inflict harm on living organisms. Equipment and conductors that carry high voltage warrant particular safety requirements and procedures. In certain industries, high voltage means voltage above a particular threshold.

This week you will learn about high voltage and how to be safe around high voltage equipment.

Resources

1. In The News
2. BEST Kit
3. High Voltage Training
4. OSHA Electrical Training
5. Dangers of Electricity
6. Electrical Safety
7. Laboratory Safety- Electrical Hazards
8. High Voltage Components

Research/Reflect/Brainstorm

Do you know what the danger threshold for voltage is? Take some time to research the difference between low and high voltage to become familiar with these terms. Find out what voltage’s danger threshold is, and at what point it becomes a danger to your life.

Do Volts or Amps Kill You

The video above will help you understand how dangerous electricity can be for your body.

Activity

One of the goals of BEST Robotics is to excite students about the prospects of a career in engineering. Many of you will pursue careers in engineering and will learn about electricity and voltage during your education. Make a list of jobs and careers where you will come in contact with high voltage. This is not limited to the field of engineering.

BEST Connection

Our BEST kit contains a lot of electrical components. How powerful are these electronics in terms of voltage? Are any of these considered high voltage? Can you measure the voltage of the batteries that are supplied to us? What dangers are there, if any?

Some teams also have very sophisticated workshops with many power tools connected to electricity. What dangers do these pieces of equipment impose on us? What kind of training does your team need to participate in to ensure the safety of each member?

Community Connection

There is high voltage all around us. As you spend this week going about your business, see how many high voltage places you can spot. Take a picture with your phone or write down where you noticed the high voltage. Then, get back together with your team and share what you found.

Bloom’s Taxonomy 

Bloom’s Taxonomy: create, explore, evaluate, generate, include, identify, list, observe, reflect, review, use, and write

Workforce Skills 

Critical thinking, materials evaluation, reading comprehension, science, writing, research