2006-07-18 14:38:12 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
In order to get 'zapped', a rat would have to be touching the 'third rail' and ground (one of the other rails). Otherwise there's nowhere for the electricity to flow.
2006-07-18 14:42:54 · answer #1 · answered by Joe Rockhead 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
@grim_chain: sorry yet it really is nonsense both rails (the position the prepare runs on) are grounded, the flexibility comes from 0.33 (or maybe fourth) rails operating alongside the facet (and in case of a 4-rail-equipment like e.g. the London underground interior the middle) of the music or from an overhead twine. So on a "widespread" music with in basic terms 2 rails there isn't any voltage on the rails - IF the grounding is operating precise. there ought to correctly be a fault with the grounding so as that there is voltage on the rails too, yet it really is amazingly somewhat uncommon... If there are added rails or an overhead twine: it really is the position the flexibility comes from. The voltage varies between 600-1200V DC in third-rail or elementary-rail overhead as a lot as 25000V AC interior the overhead wires of extreme-p.c. railways. This voltage is one hundred% deadly and also you do not even favor to the contact the twine (25kV can arc over countless inches lower than particular circumstances; defective wires on the floor could also reason risky voltage drops interior the floor) so the purely possibility-free way is to stay AWAY!
2016-12-10 11:39:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Joe Rockhead (above) is correct. The same occurs with birds sitting on overhead hydro wires. The path of least resistance is through the wire ( or the rail, if you're a rat.) If you happened to have a LOWER resistance than the rail (which is impossible) then the current would go through you. But all 4 rat paws are at the same electric potential, so long as the rat is on the rail (and not on the ground).
2006-07-18 14:48:30 · answer #3 · answered by Charlie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because there is no potential difference.
They would need to stretch and touch both the third rail AND the ground or two rails at the same time. They are simply too small to do this.
A human on the other hand could, and she/he would be fried instantly with the high voltage and current.
Hope this helps!
2006-07-18 14:44:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
While Melvin (above) is right, it is also true that rats are often much smarter than people. If you were an engineer, you would know that 95% of the track area is safe. One must simply knoe, like a rat, what one should not touch.
2006-07-18 14:43:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same reason that a flashlight bulb, for instance, doesn't light if you connect only one side of it to a battery.
The other side of the bulb has to be connected to the other side of the battery at the same time for it to light.
2006-07-18 14:47:04 · answer #6 · answered by dmb06851 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are satanic creatures that get power from the energy grid.
2006-07-18 14:41:32 · answer #7 · answered by Stuck in the Middle Ages 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋