You see birds sitting on the telephones lines and pylons but never get a shock. but we would if we sat on them!! why is that? is it because their light? i always wondered.
2006-07-28 01:38:16 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
You need to touch two seperate lines to get electrocuted. Since they only touch one they are fine. You could hang off one and you would be fine....although i wouldnt advise it.
2006-07-28 01:42:22 · answer #1 · answered by MissBehave 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
In order to get electrocuted, you need a path for the electricity to travel and second a potential difference, the wire the birds sit on has the same voltage (no potential difference) to be electrocuted it has to go into your body and another path to leave, ( usually earth ground or another wire, this will be a potential difference in voltage, { lethal})
IF the birds wings are big enough, and then sit on one wire and open their wings and touch the other wire with their wings, well fried bird ( there was a potential difference across their wing, or a difference in voltage, for the current to pass through their body)
2006-07-28 08:54:37 · answer #2 · answered by Juggernaut 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We wouldnt get a shock as long as we were not connected to the ground as you need to earth something to complete a circuit.
So that is why the birds dont get electrocuted because they are not earthed(although if something conductive was tied to the bird then touched the ground they would be zapped!But not recommended!
2006-07-28 08:49:59 · answer #3 · answered by antomadden 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If we could sit on a line without touching the ground then we wouldn't get a shock either.
Electricity needs to flow from its source to an earth connection so if you or birds never touch anything that is connected to the earth you are perfectly safe.
2006-07-28 08:43:04 · answer #4 · answered by FontOfNoKnowledge 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To get a shock, you need current. And to get current, you need to touch the line at two points where the voltage is different. Humans get electrocuted when they grab both lines at once, but the bird is only on one of the wires, so there is no voltage diffrence.
2006-07-28 08:43:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's because you need to be touching the power line and something else touching the ground, or touching the ground yourself to complete the circuit. that is how squirrels get fried on them. Their tails brush the wood post while they are on the line and electrocutes them. So, you can't get electrocuted on the line without touching something else that is also in contact with the line and the ground.
2006-07-28 08:44:26 · answer #6 · answered by +SalvavidaChica+ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dude!!! you don't know why birds get shocked?? it's because of their electro-magnetic nerve endings, the same ones that guide them in migration, that actually allows the electricity to flow through them!! that, my friend, also helps empower them for their next big flight!
also, they're working on an EM (electro-magnetic) suit for humans, and it'll be the closest thing to a pair of wings humanity has come to.
no dude, i'm just messin' with ya! seriously though, there are layers upon layers of insulators on telephone wires... like, there might be the actual wires, then a rubber coat, then a layer of paper, then a coating of thick rubber. that's why the birds don't get shocked!!! they're not actually sitting on the electrical current, you see?
try to find an old extention cord, or some old, worthless electric toy you wouldn't mind destroying. the wires in it will be somewhat simillar to power lines... try stripping one with a knife.... you'll be able to see some insulation layers!!
hope that helped a bit!
2006-07-28 08:41:33 · answer #7 · answered by Silence Dogood 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to get electrocuted you need to be in contact with a single power line and the ground or
two power lines at the same time.
Birds do not normally acheive these two requirements.
2006-07-28 08:44:49 · answer #8 · answered by jquasimodot 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always found that birds get quite a shock when they sit on my pylon!!
2006-07-28 08:42:43 · answer #9 · answered by Colin S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they can if the wire is on covered and live ., just by touching a covered wire you dont get scked, WHY DONT YOU GET SHOCKED EVERY TIME YOU MAKE A PHONE CALL??
becuse the wires are not touching you, and I'm not sure you get shocked from telephone wires.
2006-07-28 12:02:33 · answer #10 · answered by jackwalz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's because they are not earthed by touching the ground, if we were to sit on the cables without touching anything linked to the ground then neither would we. Just generally we need to climb something in order to be in reach of the cables.
2006-07-28 08:42:38 · answer #11 · answered by Torbster 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋