Electrification of human body by walking

The process of electrification of the human body by walking on resistive floors has been analysed and the corresponding body potential measured. A model for electric body potential caused by walking has been proposed and then verified experimentally. The model combines two main processes: an exponential increase of potential due to successive charging and potential oscillations caused by periodic changes of body capacitance during walking. The conditions for initiation of Paschen's microdischarges running in the gaps between floor and soles of walker's footwear have been specified and a corresponding relation for minimum saturated body potential causing Paschen's discharges has been derived. This saturated critical potential has been found to be much higher than that usually attained by walking on common floors which explains why the Paschen discharges did not appear in such air gaps. On the other hand, the microdischarges developed between uncovered parts of the human body and grounded metallic objects have been found to be likely even with common floor and sole materials. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.