2007-03-10 00:01:44 · 16 answers · asked by antoinette cee 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
because they are standing on one "side" of the wire and not grounded. you would not be shocked either as long as you werent touching the ground or the other wire.
2007-03-10 00:05:35 · answer #1 · answered by chris m 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could also perch on the wire without getting electrocuted. The bird is not completing a circuit with other wires or the ground, so it is safe, unless it comes in contact with a tree or another wire while it is sitting on the energized wire. Sometimes utility workers have to work on energized wires, so they use highly insulated bucket trucks, suits, and gloves to insulate themselves from completing a circuit to ground while they work.
There are cases where parachutists or hang gliders have gotten draped over a wire, and as long as they either cut away and fall clear to get to the ground, or the wire is deenergized, they can avoid electrocution, but it is tempting for people to 'help them' with a ladder, or pole, which does complete the circuit - first rule is don't touch someone who is on a live circuit with anything conductive or you will also risk electrocution!
2007-03-10 00:10:00 · answer #2 · answered by Steve E 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to get electrocuted, you must form a path to ground. I am an electrician and I work with live wires all the time. As long as you do not create a difference in potential to a ground source, you can handle the live wire. As soon as you create this ground effect, the current passes through the path of least resistance to ground, thus creating dead or damaged body tissue and/or organs. Don't try this at home...lol
2007-03-10 00:11:18 · answer #3 · answered by docelec2000 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well as a matter of fact, when a bird sits on a wire, that part of the wire between its legs forms a parallel connection with its body. Now as the resistance of the bird's body is much more than that of the wire, a negligible amount of current flows through its body, as a result it doesn't get electrocuted.
2016-03-28 22:34:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats easy: Birds can perch on live wires because they are not earthed to to ground A human can also to this proived he is touching only the wire I.E. No other part of the body touching anything else
2007-03-10 01:55:06 · answer #5 · answered by alan b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Current passes through you whenever you are touching
something. So if you just cling to the wire in air, you won't get
killed but you might feel a little shock.That's why birds don't
get killed instantly.
2007-03-10 00:14:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I onced asked someone about a bird that flew and perched on the conductor rail on the railway that why did'nt it get electrocuted. Being a learned person he said"It's because it landed with both feet and not one on the rail and one on the ground".
2007-03-12 08:30:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because its sitting on one live phase only and is not touching earth or the other phase. Electricty also follows the path of least resistance,in this case the wire If you could cut the wire between the feet of the bird it will be cremated
2007-03-13 00:59:19 · answer #8 · answered by bryte 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have to say i've never been killed instantly by perching on a live wire. possibly because i've never perched on a live wire. or any sort of wire for that matter. humans perching on wires is not something one sees everyday.
2007-03-10 00:09:34 · answer #9 · answered by AJ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As they don't touch anything else then they don't complete a circuit and the electricity does not flow through them. It's the flow of the electricity (the current) that causes electrocution.
2007-03-10 00:08:08 · answer #10 · answered by Timothy S 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋