why are birds not electrocuted when resting upon high potential power lines?

Answer 1

Because they are not grounded. If you were to hang from the wire without touching anything else, you would not be electrocuted either.

Answer 2

The answers are right because the birds are only touching the 'one' line, not making a circuit for the electicity to flow through. Birds do get electrocuted and die when they touch two lines, if one is a power line. It has caused small blackouts and power disruptions in the past.

Answer 3

I agree with the above answer. one day, years ago, I was riding my bike to school, and saw a large bird perched on a power line. There was a strong gust of wind, and the bird was blown backwards, and its head touched the parallel wire. BLOOEY! The poor bird was fried instantly.

Answer 4

because for electrocurtion two terminals are needed the other one being ground but birds sit on one wire and are not in contact of any other conducting materials so they dont electrocuted

Answer 5

Because the wires are very insulated, and the birds don't weigh enough to break the wires... If the wires did break, and they happened to touch the exposed end, thats a different story...

Answer 6

they are grounded. or something people always say. something to do with them NOT touching the ground. i think if they were the electricity would flow up from their feet back into the wire because the wire itself IS grounded so its makes a circuit for electricity.

Answer 7

because they are not grounded. They are only touching the wire. If they touvh the pole too then ZAP

Answer 8

i think it happens when theyre touching 2 power lines at once

Answer 9

well some do get zapped if they land on the wrong line but most can sense the buzz

Answer 10

because they are not grounded. if they were touch the wire and the metal on the post they would be fired birdy.