[curiouscat]

Came across a link to this Gawker article "A Guide to Subway Safety":

http://gawker.com/5541671/a-guide-to-subway-safety

It has this section about "Don't pee on the tracks: Fatally electrocuted through penis".

Got me thinking;  Real or urban legend? What does science  say? Maybe if you tried peeing on a 25 kV transmission line, yes. But third-rails are typically ~1000 V.

Is the stream of liquid solid enough to conduct through, say 6 feet? (Assuming the idiot stands on the subway platform) 

[Arkcon]

I believe the Mythbusters did address something like that -- peeing on an electrified livestock fence.  Anyway, their show also has a discussion forum, which covers urban legend topics.  And there are other sources -- the truth is out there, you just have to look.  And ignore anything Mulder says, he's simply to invested in his paranoia.

[HeyEveryone]

Isn't resistance also related to the diameter of the conductor? 

[billnotgatez]

Mythbusters basically discounted this as a myth with the exception of being within inches of the track so the liquid stream was continuous. I do not think i will be kneeling over a third rail with my penis 3 inches from the track in the near future.
 

[vmelkon]

It is 750 V where I live. There was some kind of rule that I think says for each 1000 V, a 1 mm spark is created.
You won't get electrocuted since the stream breaks and the distance between droplets adds up to much greater than 1 mm.

Anyway, the article is biased towards men. Why can't women get electrocuted?

[408]

Anyway, the article is biased towards men. Why can't women get electrocuted?

Because until the sheewee http://www.shewee.ca/ becomes more in vogue, men have an easier time directing their stream.