2006-10-23 05:13:28 · 18 answers · asked by Liss 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
This is a really easy one to answer. Some of the answers you have gotten are just plain stupid. Some are nearly correct but don't explain it too well. Here's what's happening. Suppose you had a flashlight bulb with two wires attached and a flashlight battery of appropriate voltage. One end of every battery is positive and the other is negative. If you connect one of the wires from the bulb to the positive end and one to the negative end, current will flow from negative to positive through the bulb causing it to light. Now. Here's how that applies to your question. If you connect only one wire, say to either negative or positive the bulb will not light. The reason is that electricity has to have both somewhere to come from, the negative, and somewhere to go, the positive. Same with the squirrel. As long as he touches only one wire he's safe. Just as the bulb won't light with only one wire connected if the squirrel touches only one wire he won't be fried. To address something that others have brought up, remember I said electricity has to have somewhere to go before current can flow? Think of the ground as a giant reservoir for electricity like a lake is a reservoir for water. The ground gives electricity an excellent place to go. This is why a man standing on an aluminum ladder needs to touch only one wire to be electrocuted.
2006-10-23 07:24:11 · answer #1 · answered by JimWV 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what a hydro wire is, but if you mean the electric wires that are all over the place, the reason is that there is no place for the electricity to go, you need a separation of voltage (like between the ground and an electrical socket, max difference is about 120 V), between the squirrel's front and back feet, there is such an infinitesimally small change in voltage that it would hardly be measurable, definitely not enough to shock the squirrel. The squirrel's body is a much poorer conductor than the wire anyways which also plays a part. Now if a squirrel were to touch two wires at the same time or touch a wire and something conductive and grounded at the same time, it would have a very bad day. Insulation has absolutely nothing to do with it either.
2006-10-23 05:18:15 · answer #2 · answered by suprasteve 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is insulation on the wires and the the squirrel feet but the main reason that the the squirrel is not cooked is that the squirrel is not grounded. You can hang off the wires and not get a shock. That is assuming that you are hanging off a low voltage wire. The electricity can flow through your body without harming you but as soon as you are grounded then ZAP cooked.
The high voltage wires are a different story. In some cases you can't even get close to these wires - the current will jump off the wire through the air (you would have to be right beside the thing....) and down your body to the ground.
2006-10-23 05:24:56 · answer #3 · answered by smartypantsmbcanada 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What is a hydro wire? If you mean the electric power lines, they don't get electrocuted because they are only touching one wire. If they were big enough to reach over and touch the other they would get zapped. Also if they touch the hot wire and the ground at the same time they get it. It's a good idea to leave the wires to the squirrels.
2006-10-23 05:22:39 · answer #4 · answered by cj 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The
Power must have a route through the body for electrocution. Meaning it must go in then come out. Since the squirrel is usually holding on to the insulated portion of the wires, it cannot exit the body, therefor it never enters the body.
2006-10-23 05:19:19 · answer #5 · answered by cawillms 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They do. If a squirrel touches two lines at once it is possible. The idea is that they stay on one line at a time. Some times if the head of the squirrel and the tail of the squirrel touch two different wires the charge can pass through it, killing it.
2006-10-23 05:25:13 · answer #6 · answered by queenoftheworld 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They would be electrocuted if they touched two wires at once, or if they touched the wire and the ground at the same time. However, if they are on only one wire, there is nowhere to conduct the electricity. The electricity will stay in one place because that's all it knows how to do.
2006-10-23 05:21:34 · answer #7 · answered by nbsandiego 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you've ever noticed squirrels always run on one wire this allows for the electric current to run through their body and out the other side if a squirrel were to touch another wire or the pole and wire at the same time the circuit would be broken and the squirrel would be electrocuted
2006-10-23 05:20:05 · answer #8 · answered by animallover 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because the squirrel runs along only one wire at a time. the current therefore travels through the insulated feet. If they stood with one foot on each of two wires, for example, the curreent would run through them and then they would be electrocuted.
2006-10-23 05:21:32 · answer #9 · answered by meilin h 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do not pay any attention to the first two answers.! The reason is that you can thouch ONE wire and one only. You can not touch one and the pole or another wire or the ground.The squirrel jumps from the pole to the wire and does not come into contact with two things at once! But I would not try it if you want to bee here to see Santa Clause!
2006-10-23 05:23:35 · answer #10 · answered by derrickzator 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋