2007-08-20 05:33:27 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The simple answer, is that a bird on a power line does not complete a circuit, therefore no current can flow.
On the other hand, a bird could be viewed as a single terminal free air capacitor. However, the bird's capacitance in this configuration, is so tiny, that it would take a static potential of *billions* of volts, not thousands, for the bird to feel any noticeable current.
Hope that makes sense,
~W.O.M.B.A.T.
2007-08-20 06:00:17 · answer #1 · answered by WOMBAT, Manliness Expert 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, the phase represents the angular difference of the oscillations in the two voltages. A bird on either phase is connected to voltage that varies from zero to thousands of volts at a 60 HZ frequency. The bird doesn't absorb much energy from the wire.
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2007-08-20 05:43:41 · answer #2 · answered by odu83 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
So. It's because they are completely isolated from the ground and the power phase passes trought their body without harming them.
2007-08-20 05:47:04 · answer #3 · answered by preslaff 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋