Why can a person touching an electric wire with wet hands get a bigger shock even leading to death?

Answer 1

Your flesh can literally get cooked. The current passing through a section of your body times the resistance of that body part determines the wattage. That in turn becomes the heat and given enough heat, you're literally cooking. The fluids in sections of your body can boil and burst whatever area they're in.

Answer 2

Current will go to ground whatever the ground may be regardless of what is in the way. It is called a ground because that is exactly what it is, going to ground. Same reason lightening hits the earth or something that is connected to the earth. Current will seek the path of least resistance. That's why you don't stand under trees or next to something tall and metal in a thunder storm. Taller the structure, the easier it is to hit.

The substation transformer has one of its terminals connected to the earth (ground) as well as providing the neutral conductor. Because the earth is a conductor, this means that there are two routes for current to return from the load to the transformer -normally through the neutral conductor but, if there is an accidental connection to earth, also through the earth. So, if you come into contact with the line conductor, your body is providing a route for current to flow back to the transformer through the earth -that's why you receive an electric shock.

Another way of looking at it is to realise that the earth has a potential of 0 V and the line conductor has a potential of 120 V (North America) or 230 V (Europe) measured with respect to earth. So, if you come into contact with both a line conductor AND earth, your body will be subject to a voltage of 120 V or 240 V.

Answer 3

That is because when wet the skin has a much reduced electrical resistance, especially after a bath.