Ford Electric Ranger 1998 Student Manual page 121

LESSON 3: SAFETY AND EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Hazard Two: Arcing
An arc is a discharge of electricity across a circuit gap. The primary
danger of this hazard is the burn that a person can receive. The heat at
each end of an arc reaches up to and beyond 19,427°C (35,000°F), or
about 4 times the surface temperature of the sun. Arcing is a
significant concern in power plants and other areas of extremely high
voltage because arc size and length are proportionate to voltage.
Arcing is a potential hazard with lower voltages as well. It can result
in insulation damage, the melting of conductors, and vaporization of
metal.
Hazard Three: Blast
Electric blast is the pressure expansion caused by an arc. The
expansion is actually the rapid heating of the surrounding air and the
boiling of a metal, usually copper. Both expand at incredible
proportions under the intense heat of an arc. Copper expands by a
factor of 67,000 when vaporized.
1998 Ranger EV New Model Training 3-7