So I heard iPads, iPhones etc are controlled by electrical currents from your skin, which is why tapping your iPad with a pole won't work. So I was tapping my iPad with an orange segment AND IT WORKS!!???. Created by Anonymous. science-mathematics-en - physics-en

ORANGE SEGMENT HAS AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT!!?

May 2021 3 35 Report

ORANGE SEGMENT HAS AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT!!?

So I heard iPads, iPhones etc are controlled by electrical currents from your skin, which is why tapping your iPad with a pole won't work. So I was tapping my iPad with an orange segment AND IT WORKS!!???

Science & Mathematics / Physics

Big Daddy

Verified answer

It's not electrical "currents", but that's pretty close.

Yes an orange segment has water and a bit of acid inside. It can conduct charges from you to the tablet. A baby carrot works well and can be a bit less messy.

I believe that ipads are responding to rapid changes in capacity from a finger or other object, not electrical currents. Ipad screens are made of hard plastic or possible glass, and this is also frequently cover with a clear plastic protective cover--these cannot conduct electricity.

Anything that is not a good insulator will work as long as you hold it with your bare hand. It also maters that you are holding the product in your other hand. The touch pads of such devices usually operate by capacitance where the display glass/plastic is the dielectric.

http://www.mobileburn.com/definition.jsp?term=capa...

http://www.ehow.com/list_7282856_differences-capac...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen#Capacitiv...

Note that even materials used for high voltage insulators have some leakage current, but that is not what these displays use.