Electricity is powerful and astonishingly noisy. But why does electricity make this steel drill bit go up in flames?
As YouTuber Lets Melt This explains, there are about 800 amperes running through the copper wires on either side of the bit. Copper conducts electricity very well. Steel, less so. That excess energy that can’t easily flow through the steel becomes heat, and the bit glows white hot until it can’t hold itself up any longer.
It’s a fascinating bit of science, but putting the video on mute is highly recommended, unless you listen to field recordings of tattoo guns recreationally.