Birds can catch electric wires without being shocked ?!!!!!

Question

is that true, i heared this from my neighbour, but i can't believe her, if some body know tell me, how and why ?!!!

Answer 1

Because the single wire transfer single type of charge either positive or negative.If the bird touched 2 wires it will definitely get shocked :)

Answer 2

I see birds sitting on electricity wires all the time.

The reason why they can do this is because wires are normally insulated. However, even if the wires were not they would still be all right.

Basically, you only get electrocuted if a high current flows through your body. Because the birds on the wires are not earthed, then very little current flows through them (electricity flows preferentially through the path of least resistance so because the birds have a much higher resistance than the wire then they are safe).

Not only that, but the electricity flowing through the wire looses some of its energy through resistance in the wire which generates heat - so their feet and nice and warm too :)

Answer 3

I know they can land on power lines and not get shocked cause of their feet,but idk bout that!

Answer 4

I think you mean "touch" not catch.

Touching just one wire is never a problem. You have to have a connection between two wires, or one wire and ground before current can flow, and it's current that causes damage.

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Answer 5

the circuit is not complete. for a shock u have to complete a circuit this means there has to be a connection between negative and positive. If u touch one wire no current will go through u. but if u complete a circuit. for example if a crow puts one foot at the positive terminal of the wires and one on the negative or neutral a current will go through the crow and the crow will be barbequed in an instant!

Answer 6

maybe because the cable is covered in plastic/rubber or something that prevents the current passing into them . ive looked closely at power cables and most have a protective covering to prevent accidental shocking .

Answer 7

There are different voltage running across the wires(cables). Birds can sense the amount of electricity running through it. So they can decide if they are safe to stand on it or not.

Answer 8

As long as the only touch one.

If they touch two they will complete a circuit and get zapped

Answer 9

Its tru but im not sure how