Birds can perch safely on overhead electric power cables without being electrocuted because
birds can withstand high p.d. of the electric power cables
any accumulated charge on the birds is quickly dissipated
the feet of the birds are well insulated
the current is a.c. and has particular direction
there is no p.d between the birds and the cables
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Discussions (4)
Greetings, The Myschool Team.
The correct answer is E(there is no p.d between the birds and the cables) and not C(the feet of the birds are well insulated). To validate my claim, I would like to quote a few sources:
"Electrical current is the movement of electrons,” explains Sun. The movement of electrons through a device like your TV is what gives it the energy to display images and produce sound. Sun describes the long process these moving electrons take to get to your house...this creates a closed loop, which is required for electricity to flow...when a bird is perched on a single wire, its two feet are at the same electrical potential, so the electrons in the wires have no motivation to travel through the bird’s body. No moving electrons means no electric current. Our bird is safe, for the moment anyway..."
- MIT School of Engineering
"...no current flows through the bird because it is at the same potential as the wire it is sitting on, so no current flows..."
- Naked Scientist
