Hello, everyone! Amidst your busy lives, have you ever found a moment of peace watching the small birds perched on power lines in the city? Have you ever wondered why these birds don’t get electrocuted while sitting on these lines? Today, I’d like to answer this little mystery.
Firstly, most power lines are actually covered with insulating materials, preventing the flow of electric current to the birds. This is the primary reason why birds can rest on power lines without worry.
Moreover, even on exposed high-voltage lines, birds do not get electrocuted. The reason lies in the property of electricity to flow through paths of least resistance. This can be easily understood by comparing it to a river and rocks. The river water (electric current) flows around the rocks (birds), choosing the path of least resistance, which is the waterway (power line). In this analogy, the river represents the power line, the water is the electric current, and the rocks are the birds. Since the power line offers less resistance to electricity than the bird’s body, the electric current flows around the bird.
It’s interesting to note that birds typically perch on only one power line at a time. However, they must be cautious. If a bird touches a power line with one foot and the ground or another object with another, it risks electrocution. Electricity requires a safe path to flow.
So, the next time you see these birds, remember this fascinating aspect of electricity. Their safe resting places contribute to our safe living environments as well.
