I see them all the time, landing on wires that would fry me if I touched them....
2006-07-19 08:24:06 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
You have to be a path from the wires to the ground in order to electrocute someone. Because the bird is not touching another wire or the ground, they won't electrocute themselves.
But a person is a grounding force between the wire and the ground. I would not try to test this principle out, but from what I understand a person holding onto a wire will only electrocute themselves if they connect the wire to pole or another object where the electricity can travel through them to the other source.
But don't try it!
2006-07-19 08:29:04 · answer #1 · answered by Searcher 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually, I just learned of an eagle that could not return to the wild because he was electrocuted by a power line. So it can and does happen.
2006-07-19 11:48:45 · answer #2 · answered by Mike S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to be grounded on something to conduct the energy.. if you landed on a telephone wire you would not be electrocuted unless you touched something else simultaneously.
2006-07-19 08:40:26 · answer #3 · answered by m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are not on the ground. For something to be electrocuted, the electricity has to flow through the earth and then electrocute the victim.
2006-07-19 14:22:22 · answer #4 · answered by butter with a touch of scotch 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they're not grounded. To electrocute something, there must be a full circuit for the electricity to flow through.
2006-07-19 08:27:51 · answer #5 · answered by smartee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because you only get electrocuted when you touch 2 wires at once
2006-07-19 08:27:56 · answer #6 · answered by Elizabeth W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could hang from them. You need to be grounded to fry. If those birds spread their wings too close to the grounding cable on the post, they sizzle instantly. Also, many of them have rubber sheathing on them.
2006-07-19 08:28:17 · answer #7 · answered by Jester 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they don't touch anything else around and don't make a short cut. If the bird would touch two lines the same time, it would be shocked
2006-07-19 08:29:08 · answer #8 · answered by bujaki.tibor 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are not earthed....if any part of them was in touch with the ground the power would run thru and fry them..
2006-07-19 08:29:32 · answer #9 · answered by notgnal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There feet are made from a insulating substance. Our skin is a conductor of electricty. Anyways they are grounded.
2006-07-19 14:28:22 · answer #10 · answered by boycrazy21491 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋