What is static electricity? What causes it? Explain what you learned to a friend or family member. Did you get it? Test your knowledge. What are you wondering? Wonder Words appliances utility bypasses voltage resistance electrons conductors electrical potential copper Take the Wonder Word Challenge.
Join the Discussion. Ellie Apr 2, I liked the aritacal but why do we get shoked but birds i like to think of it as a bird super power lol.
I have always wondered why bird sit on a line. Brooklin Mar 24, Andrea Mar 24, Myka Mar 22, Lyric Mar 20, I don't know if birds do get shocked but I think their body observes the electricity and they can't feel it.
Mar 19, Jack Mar 17, Lacho Mar 3, Trevor Feb 20, I have seen a bird get electrocuted. The sad thing was it was my pet bird :. Evan Feb 24, How do bird not get shocked though hahaha i don't like them period. Feb 20, We're sorry for your loss, Trevor! That must have been really hard for you. CuteSpud fan Jan 12, Dec 17, Sounds like it's time for a Wonder Journey!
Let us know what you learn, callum! Gokul Oct 28, I hope that our body's resistance in dry conditions is far higher than that of electrical wires. But still we get electrocuted turn into ashes even if we touch a single high voltage line without our body grounded.
Nov 11, John Hoot Sep 30, We have always believed that electricity takes the path of least resistance to ground. Not all the way true. While the most current does go to ground through the path of least resistance. Electricity takes ALL paths available to ground. So, don't think your safe because you have a ground on the conductor. It must be de energized. Sep 30, Thanks for sharing, John! Most all of you are wrong , i'm affraid. Birds don't get the full effect of being shocked on power lines because they aren't wide enough to be able to step between two different potential zones.
Their legs aren't long enough. They do however get some electrical flow through their bodies, but, it's not enough to be noticed by the bird. I am a lineman for a power company for the past 32 years is how i know. Look up step potential and potential grounding for power lines.
Natalie Razey Dec 11, Dec 11, Thanks for the extra info, John. Richard May 17, Not true. Birds on power lines don't get shocked because they are not in contact with the ground or other conductive element that is in contact with the ground.
If the bird were to touch another wire at the same time, and that second wire was of a differing resistance, it could be electrocuted. The same could happen if it touch a wire and the wooden post at the same time. This is because electrons are constantly trying to find the shortest route back to earth, which is where they originate.
Aaron May 24, May 24, May 20, Hi, Richard! Thanks for your input. Bianca Feb 6, What would happen if a human were to touch an electrical wire just as the birds do? Would it be any different if we had both hands touching compared to just one? What if we touched different wires with our hands? Feb 6, Bianca Feb 9, Chelsea Feb 22, This is a great article :! So useful and helpful.
Feb 26, Thanks, Chelsea!! Swastik Nov 25, Birds do get electrocuted but on a negligible scale. Even if it is assumed that no current flows through the bird's body though current does flow on a negligible scale as copper wire does have some resistance even if it is unobservable. At a constant voltage V bird's body would act like a capacitor A device that store charges of capacitance C. If this charged bird sits on other objects like branch of tree which is neutral object connected to Earth, electrons accumulated in the bird's body would flow to the Earth giving the bird a tingling shock.
However bird being so small a object, it would have very small capacitance thus less charge accumulated on it. This question was asked in. Nov 26, Swastik Nov 27, Dec 4, Thanks for sharing, Swastik! Where did you find this information?
Wonder Friend Oct 18, Oct 23, Sep 20, We're so glad that you learned something new, afghanbee! Pepe Sep 3, I have 2 questions! As I understood, there are 2 main reasons why birds don't get electrocuted. The first one is they offer more resistance than the wire and the second is that they don't represent a difference in voltage.
So my questions are: What happens with the voltage of the bird itself? I doubt the bird has 35, volts on it. So, when it touches the wire, there is not a difference between the wire and the bird? And second When the bird touches a second wire or ground, there is a difference of voltage and it gets fried. But, what happens to the first point? The bird still represents a major resistant for current than the wire, so why doesnt the current in both wires bypass the bird and continue on the easiest path?
Sep 5, Blake May 16, This is completely wrong teachings. The bird does not get electrocuted because the bird is the same potential as the wire it's perched on. Hard to believe that this is the first Google result. Electricity travels on the outer surface of the bird and sees no current through it's body Michael Faraday presented this with the Faraday cage On higher voltages there is an electrical phenomenon called Corona which buzzes as the wire throws electrons off.
This irritates the birds. This is why you don't see birds perched on lines above 20, volts. I'll finish with saying I'm a journeyman lineman and I work at 5 voltage electricity every day of my life.
May 17, Princess Jan 23, Jan 24, Wonder Friend Nov 6, Nov 6, You already have, by joining the conversation! Thanks, Princess! Audrey Nov 2, Nov 2, Gigi Sep 13, This is an awsome artical. I learned alot from it.
Sep 14, May 2, At the work sites it is apparent to see earth wires are connected to a conductor exposed copper then lead to grounding. My question is , Why this earthling not a reason of shock and if ground failed copper would be a conductor.
What is neutral? Why copper using for grounding of electricity. Apr 8, Jan Feb 8, My professor gave me an assignment.
This is the question: Birds have been known to perch on volts bare transmission line without apparent harm.
Is this because of the very dry nature of their feet? So far, I haven't found any answers about their feet Feb 9, Is it possible to collect energy from foot traffic? Which is more likely to happen first: solar panels on every home, or giant solar power plants? Can sound be converted to useful energy? Is it possible to collect energy from a moving roller coaster? How does a battery work? Browse all questions. Our Story hello birdspot.
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When electricity travels through a body in this fashion, electrocution takes place, and the bird can die. Based in Traverse City, Mich. His work primarily appears on various websites. Cooley Law School, where he graduated with honors. Don't try that at home though since there are exceptions to these rules! Why Does Electricity Go to the Ground? How to Use Analog Multimeters. Basic Parts of a DC Generator.
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