How come birds can sit on electrical wires and not get hurt and we can't touch them or we will almost die?

Question

I mean it doesnt make sense if we die why dont we?

Answer 1

they are not grounded.

Answer 2

High above the ground, electrical and telephone poles and their connecting wires must seem made for birds, like artificial trees with limbs that stretch on forever. Sometimes a hundred birds will be stretched out along a wire, in a kind of high-tension convention.

How come a bird on a wire doesn't get shocked? When the bird perches on a live wire, her body becomes charged--for the moment, it's at the same voltage as the wire. But no current flows into her body. A body is a poor conductor compared to copper wire, so there's no reason for electrons to take a detour through the bird. More importantly, electrons current flow from a region of high voltage to one of low voltage. The drifting current, in effect, ignores the bird.

But if a bird (or a power line worker) accidentally touches an electrical "ground" while in contact with the high-voltage wire, she completes an electrical circuit. A ground is a region of approximately zero voltage. The earth, and anything touching it that can conduct current, is the ground.

Like water flowing over a dam into a river, current surges through the bird (or person's) body on its way into the ground. Severe injury or death by electrocution is the result.

That's why a squirrel can run across an electrical line, but sadly die when its foot makes contact with the (grounded) transformer on the pole at wire's end.

Answer 3

The bird is not touching the ground, and is therefore not "grounded". If you are touching wire, then you must be standing on the ground, wich is why the electricity will jump from the wire to you to the ground.

Also, after birds were being fryed by the thousands when wires like that were first put up, they put a thin plastic coating on them.

At least, thats what I heard.

If the bird stepped on the wire and the pole, it would die.

Answer 4

The bird is okay if it is on one wire because it is not grounded and the electricity won't flow through it. If it touches another wire at the same time it will be electrocuted. This does happen, but I think they try to put the wires far enough apart not to endanger most birds.
If you are on the pole, you may be grounded and so you could be electrocuted if you touch the wire. If you are on the ground you are certainly grounded, but probably can't reach the wire.

Answer 5

they sit down on telephone wires using fact it makes a accessible perch. even nonetheless they won't touch extra desirable than one twine at a time. In some western states the telephone corporation has actual made in attempt to characteristic one extra "hawk roost" on good of thier poles so the birds are not getting electrocuted. If I keep in mind, alot of Golden Eagles have been dying using fact they might fly in to sit down down on the poles and thier wings might touch 2 wires and electrocute the chicken. see you later using fact the chicken basically sits on one twine it is okay, yet while it touches 2 wires it completes a circuit and the present runs interior the direction of the chicken. comparable explanation why you may not touch an electric powered twine alongside with your ft on the floor- you finished a circuit ;) -Neb

Answer 6

Here is the deal:
When they are on the wires, they are not touching the ground (not grounded), so the electricity has no where to go except the insulated wire. When we touch the wire, we are most likely touching the ground (grounded), then the electricity flows through us and onto/into the ground, and not back into the wire as it was meant to flow.

Answer 7

because small birds tails have no contact with the ground (nor ground wire), hence no electrocution.

in the other side bigger birds die on such lines because of their longer tail that touch the ground wire and that physical contact gives an electrocution.

humans are electrocuted because of their feet, they have a contact with the ground. got it?!

Answer 8

if birds are sitting on the wire, they aren't touching a ground such as a telephone pole.....but if a foot of thiers touched a pole like that or something...the bird would fry. that's why we die if we touch them.

Answer 9

well you could sit on a wire if it didn't break because there is no current flowing through you if you grab the wire and you're on something touching the ground you're dead

Answer 10

Birds have hollow legs so the electricity has no path for current to travel.Hope this helps...

Answer 11

They aren't grounded and they are only on a single wire not a pair.