WHY DON’T BIRDS GET ELECTRIC SHOCK SITTING ON POWER LINES?

WHY DON’T BIRDS GET ELECTRIC SHOCK SITTING ON POWER LINES?

Birds don’t get electrocuted or electric shock sitting on power lines because they are not good conductors of electricity, and they do not provide a path for electrical current to flow. Here’s why:

1. Insulation: Power lines are typically made of materials that are good conductors of electricity, such as copper or aluminum, but they are also well-insulated. The outer covering of power lines, often made of materials like rubber or plastic, acts as an insulator. This insulation prevents electrical current from escaping into the air or reaching objects in contact with the line.
2. Minimal Contact: When birds perch on power lines, they are only touching one wire at a time, which means there is no closed circuit for electricity to flow through. Without a complete circuit, electrical current cannot pass through the bird’s body.
3. Lack of Grounding: To be electrocuted, a living creature needs to provide a path for electricity to flow between a high-voltage source and the ground. Birds on power lines do not create this path because they are not grounded. They are essentially “floating” on the wire, so there is no connection to the earth.

In summary, the combination of insulation, the absence of a closed circuit, and the lack of grounding prevents birds from getting electrocuted while perched on power lines. However, it’s important to note that birds can be at risk if they simultaneously touch two power lines with different voltages or if their wings touch both a power line and a nearby grounded object, creating a path for electrical current to flow. Nonetheless, such incidents are relatively rare.