• Question: how do birds not get electrocuted when they stand on power lines

    Asked by dan33 to Cathy, Mark, Roma, Rory on 26 Jun 2014.
    • Photo: Rory Hadden

      Rory Hadden answered on 26 Jun 2014:

      This is probably one for Cathy but I’ll have a go…

      It is because there is no where for the electricity to flow and it is the flow of electricity that is dangerous. Electricity needs a circuit to flow. If a bird was standing on one power cable then the electricity cannot flow through the bird to anywhere else. If it was a very big bird and it could also touch the ground while on the power line, the electricity would be able to flow through the bird to the ground. That flow of electricity would be deadly.

      It’s also the reason not to fly a kite near power lines!

      Perhaps Cathy can give a more detailed answer.

      Rory

    • Photo: Cathy Fraser

      Cathy Fraser answered on 26 Jun 2014:

      Dan

      Rory’s right – the bird provides more resistance than the wire – so the electricity flows through that and not the bird.
      It would be a different story if the bird was touching something else as well as the wire – a tree, or the ground for example then yes, it would be bye bye bird.

    • Photo: Roma Agrawal

      Roma Agrawal answered on 26 Jun 2014:

      All answered by Rory and Cathy 🙂

      I don’t suggest you try standing on a wire though…

    • Photo: Mark Greaves

      Mark Greaves answered on 27 Jun 2014:

      I see this has already been covered.

      As a side note, have you ever seen fluorescent tubes lit up whilst held under power lines? It’s an amazing phenomenon and can be seen on this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXhZvyGtMrk

      Please don’t try this, your parents wouldn’t like to lose the kitchen light.

      Mark

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