2007-01-23 01:24:29 · 16 answers · asked by marc c 1 in Environment
In order to get a shock there would have to be a current path from the line on which the bird is sitting, throught the bird's body, to earth. Since the bird is merely sitting on the line, no such path exists, hence it does not get electrocuted.
2007-01-23 01:30:55 · answer #1 · answered by avian 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I asked that question myself once a long time ago, and was told that it's because they're not touching anything else when they sit on a wire. This allows the electricity to flow through their body but not damage it. I guess basically it means the electricity just flows back around through the bird. If a human touches a live wire, that person is usually still on the ground or in a bucket truck, etc., which give the electricity something to exit through. I guess this keeps the birds warm in the cold weather, too. I'm not an electrician, but it made sense to me!
2007-01-23 01:32:07 · answer #2 · answered by tobydoby 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In most electrical lines that you see from pole to pole there are three lines called X,Y,Z if the bird were to be touching any one of these lines plus a fourth line known as a "neutral" then the bird would be pretty much vaporized. The same thing applies if the bird were touching any one of the three and had a foot on the ground.(in the case of a wire down and still "live")<
2007-01-23 01:35:18 · answer #3 · answered by tpbthigb 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's because they aren't touching anything else at the same time. If you were to climb up a pylon then jump onto the cable nothing would happen to you. If, however, you were to reach across and touch the cable whilst still in contact with the pylon you would be electrocuted. Electricity always tries to find the shortest path to earth so if it hits something not in contact with the ground (like the bird) it can't complete the journey so doesn't cause the shock.
2007-01-23 07:38:38 · answer #4 · answered by Martin R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The power line is at high potential. The earth or the neutral line beside the power line is at zero potential. There is a potential difference between the wires. Current will be there only when the potentials are joined through a conductor. In houses for example through a bulb or fan etc. the circuit is closed. “The bird is on the wire” means, it is also at the same potential of the wire. If we connect one wire from a bulb to the power line and leave the other wire hanging , the bulb will not glow indicating that there is no current in the bulb. If we connect the other wire to earth or to the neutral wire, then current will flow and the bulb will glow. Therefore, as long as the bird is sitting on one wire, it is not harmful to it. But if it touches neutral wire then the circuit is closed and the current flows through its body causing its death.
2016-05-24 00:35:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There has to be a ground connection in order for current to flow. You could sit on a live power line and not be hurt if you could get up there without contact with a physical ground such as the transmission tower or telephone pole...
2007-01-23 01:31:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They haven't grounded themselves. Electricity finds the least resistant route to earth so the current is passing through them without harming them. If the could touch the ground and still stay purched, they'd be fried.
2007-01-23 01:29:13 · answer #7 · answered by robdunf 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i always wanted to know the answer to this question although I have seen birds that have been killed so still a little confused. maybe they had one ley on the telegraph pole touching the ground and one on the wire
2007-01-23 20:14:14 · answer #8 · answered by Carrot 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are not grounded and it takes a complete circuit for electricity to shock
2007-01-23 01:40:48 · answer #9 · answered by hill bill y 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because thier not grounded. You have to be on the ground for the electricity to go through you
2007-01-23 01:28:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋