Why do birds not electrocuted when they are staying on live wire or wires?

Answer 1

Power lines are insulated and as long as they don't touch the ground (or another object) they won't be electrocuted.

Answer

Most power lines are not, in fact, insulated because they are already surrounded by an insulating media -air.

The reason that birds don't get electrocuted is because each foot is at the same potential and, for current to flow (it's the current which causes electrocution) through its body, each foot must be at a different potential. The bird is safe, providing another part of its body doesn't come in contact with one of the other conductors.

Answer 2

this is depend on applied voltage or voltage in wire which is catch-ed by an man,bird..if the voltage is low and man,bird is not connected to ground then they will not fell any shock..whereas if applied voltage(or voltage in wire)high like 11 kv then the srounding air will ionised so there are free ions so now the circuit is completed and finaly man feel an electric shock due to ionised air particals however this is not a case in low voltage line .........this effect is called chrona

Answer 3

With electricity, in order to be electrocuted, you need to be grounded. Just like with a plug in and the extra prong at the bottom to keep it grounded. A bird can stand on a wire and not get electrocuted because the wire does not actually touch the pole that keeps it in the air. Without being grounded, they cannot be electrocuted. But if the bird stretches out its wings and it touches the pole connected to the ground, the bird would be electrocuted.

Another Answer

For an electric current to pass through the bird's body, there must be a potential difference (voltage) across its legs. But its legs are connected to a very good conductor which means that the bird's legs must be at the same potential -no potential difference, no shock!

Answer 4

As long as they do not touch two wires at the same time, the current does not pass through them. Large birds with long wingspans sometimes can touch two wires at the same time, which can shock and kill them.

Answer 5

Birds don't get electrocuted because electricity travels through the wires and when it reaches the stoby pole it goes down to the houses. for a bird to get electrocuted it would have to have one foot on each wire on each side of the stoby pole.

Besides which the cables are covered in CPC circuit protective conductor its basically a plastic or rubber casing

Answer 6

MOST overhead powerlines are not covered in insulation- they may have a weatherproofing material on them, but it is not insulation. The birds are safe because they do not touch a wire AND the ground at the same time, and they only touch one wire at a time. The wires are held up by insulators, usually made of glass or ceramic material. If a bird touched two wires at once, or a wire and the ground at the same time, there would be a path for current to flow, and the bird would die. So will you if you do this. Do not EVER attempt to touch an overhead line with ANYTHING. Extreme danger.

Answer 7

birds dont get electricuted because their aiming up when you are able to balance on an electric wire you woulnt get electricuted because electricity want to get connected down on the ground therefore aiming down and the birds are standing not hanging ,if they were hanging they would die when they stand they dont because their aiming up.

Answer 8

the wires are insulated by plastic, so those dang birds wont be killed by touching plastic

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