Besides shooting an actual human or a pig carcass, the best way to determine the efficacy of a projectile—like a bullet—is with ballistic gel, which has almost identical density and viscosity to human muscle tissue. But how does it fare against extraordinary voltages? According to this experiment caught on video, the short answer is: not well.
Andy from Photonicinduction claims to have “25 years [of] electric experience,” and owns a number of very large, very loud power supplies which he has used to electrocute things on the internet for the last eight years. In this experiment, he starts applying low voltage to a lump of ballistic gel and works his way up. At around 250 volts the metal probes cut through the gel like butter. At 2,500 volts the gel boils instantly. At 100,000 volts the gel is surrounded by Emperor Palpatine-style Force lightning.
Sure, the lethality of electricity is determined not just by volts but by amperes and ohms, and it’s debatable whether ballistics gel has the same conductive properties as people, but this is still a clear reminder that electricity is Not To Be Fucked With Lightly. Some might call Andy’s experiments “a hazard” or “profoundly unsafe.” He hasn’t blown the roof off his house or fried himself yet, so he’s obviously doing something right. But please don’t do what he’s doing t home.
