2006-06-14 22:54:42 · 15 answers · asked by Freddo 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
When the bird perches on a live wire, her body becomes charged--for the moment, it's at the same voltage as the wire. But no current flows into her body. A body is a poor conductor compared to copper wire, so there's no reason for electrons to take a detour through the bird. More importantly, electrons current flow from a region of high voltage to one of low voltage. The drifting current, in effect, ignores the bird.
But if a bird (or a power line worker) accidentally touches an electrical "ground" while in contact with the high-voltage wire, she completes an electrical circuit. A ground is a region of approximately zero voltage. The earth, and anything touching it that can conduct current, is the ground.
2006-06-14 23:00:12 · answer #1 · answered by alooo... 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
B/c the current runs through them since both limbs are touching the wire. If a squirrel or bird was touching the ground with one foot and the wire with the other foot, they would get electricuted as well.
2006-06-14 23:55:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a question every body would ask.........
Always remember that current will flow in a closed circuit. Birds when sit on one conductor does not experience any shock or danger because the circuit is not closed to cause a current flow. But watch that when a bird touches an another bird sitting on the other conductor(opposite conductor) there will be a flash over(because the circuit closed) and the birds die due to severe shock and burn.
2006-06-14 23:04:14 · answer #3 · answered by M.Vinoth Kumar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because when a bird is sitting on a wire, it is not making a connection between the cable and the ground.
2006-06-14 23:01:26 · answer #4 · answered by Robert C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought they have some sort of insulation (usually made from Polyvinyl Chloride/ PVC) to cover the electrical wires and to prevent the copper wire inside from rusting, moisture, etc.? Who would dare to install bare, uncovered wire that poses danger once the circuit is closed? Thanks to the PVC insulation (plastic is not a good electrical conductor), birds that sit on electrical wires do not get electrocuted.
Hope it answers your question...
2006-06-14 23:03:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
electricity always takes the path of least resistance to get to the ground in this case traveling thru wire insulation and a bird and the air is more resistance than traveling threu the wire and to the ground and the end of the circut
2006-06-14 23:01:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats because of insulation. it's obvious
why when u touch a electrical cord, u dont get electrocuted.
because of the insulator.
not grounded or whatsoever.
if the bird touches the open wire. it will be electrocuted.
because of the A/C current flow.
2006-06-16 16:39:28 · answer #7 · answered by top_ace_striker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You mean uninsulated hi voltage wires. They would need to touch two wires. Large birds have been.
2006-06-14 23:47:10 · answer #8 · answered by greenhug 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to be electrocuted there has to be short circuit . when the birds sit on wire they come in contact in only one charge either negative or positive .
2006-06-14 22:59:42 · answer #9 · answered by bunty_tibrewal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because birds are un-grounded to earth so they don't electricuted
2006-06-14 23:00:30 · answer #10 · answered by yoyox_34 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋