Name: sandra m winter
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Around 1993
Question:
Why are birds able to land on electrical wires and not be electrocuted?
Replies:
Basically because the bird does not touch two wires at the same time. When
it lands on one wire, the bird is not grounded, which means that no current
can flow. It is kind of like plugging a light into the wall but not turning
it on. No current is flowing into the light, because the circuit is open.
If, say, the bird was large enough to touch both wings to two different
wires at the same time, it would be electrocuted (which is a common problem
in CA. with the condors). I believe a person may be able to hang from ONE
wire and not be harmed, but I would not recommend trying it!
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