/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 1 Why can a bird perch on a high-v... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

91影视

Log out

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 22: Problem 1

Why can a bird perch on a high-voltage power line without getting electrocuted?

Short Answer

Expert verified
A bird can perch on a high voltage power line without getting electrocuted because there is no potential difference across it. Both parts of bird's body touching the wire is at same electrical potential, therefore the electricity does not have any reason to flow through the bird's body to reach a different potential.

Step by step solution

01

Determining Electricity Flow

Understand that electricity always seeks the path to ground and in an electrical circuit, it's always looking for a return path to its source. In order to flow, electricity needs a potential difference.
02

Understanding Bird's Position

Analyze that when a bird perches on a single power line, both its feet are at the same electrical potential, so the electricity has no motivation to travel through the bird's body. The bird isn鈥檛 providing a path of lower resistance to the electrical current because it is not in contact with the ground or another power line at a different potential.
03

Effects of Touching Second Power Line or Ground

Take into account that the bird would get shocked if it simultaneously touched another line at a different electrical potential or if it simultaneously touched the ground. Either case would create a conductive path, closing the circuit and letting the current through the bird鈥檚 body, leading to electrocution.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91影视!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Electric Circuits
An electric circuit is like a closed loop, allowing electricity to flow through it. Think of it like a racetrack that the electric current runs around. It consists of various components like resistors, capacitors, and switches, which control the flow of electricity. Importantly, a circuit needs a power source, such as a battery or a power plant, to provide the driving force for the current.
  • Components: These include wires, resistors, and often a power source.
  • Closed Loop: For electricity to flow continuously, the path must be closed with no breaks.
  • Purpose: Used to power devices, from a simple lamp to complex computing systems.
Understanding electric circuits is vital because it forms the basis for understanding how electric devices function. In terms of safety, if a circuit stays closed without shortcuts, it prevents unintended flow, like through a living being.
Potential Difference
Potential difference is a concept that refers to the voltage between two points in a circuit. This difference is what pushes the electric current through the circuit. Think of it as the pressure that moves water through a hose. The greater the potential difference, the greater the force moving the current.
  • Measured in volts (V).
  • Needed for current to flow effectively in a circuit.
  • Differences cause electric current to choose specific paths.
Without a potential difference, electricity would not have the motivation to move from one point to another. This is why a bird doesn't get shocked while sitting on a single power line with no potential difference across its body.
Electrical Current
Electrical current is the flow of electric charge through a conductor. Imagine it as a stream of electric charges moving down a river. It's measured in amperes (amps) and represents how much electricity is moving through a point in the circuit.
  • Conductor: The material pathway, like copper wires, through which current flows.
  • Measured in amperes (A).
  • Direction: Conventionally said to flow from positive to negative, although electrons move from negative to positive.
Current flows easiest through materials with low resistance. When thinking about safety, we want to direct current through designed paths and not expose humans or animals, as that can be dangerous.
Conductive Path
A conductive path is a route that electric current follows, typically made of materials that allow easy flow of electricity, like metals. In a basic sense, it's like a highway for electrons. For current to flow safely and effectively, the path must be complete and uninterrupted.
  • Materials: Often metals or conductive substances.
  • Path Completeness: Must be continuous with no breaks.
  • Resistance: Lower resistance materials allow easier flow of electricity.
Birds are safe on power lines because, unless they create a conductive path by connecting with the ground or another wire at a different potential, their bodies don鈥檛 complete a path for current to flow through. Thus, understanding conductive paths helps prevent accidents and ensures electricity is channeled correctly.

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

The electric field within a cell membrane is approximately \(8.0 \mathrm{MV} / \mathrm{m}\) and is essentially uniform. If the membrane is \(10 \mathrm{nm}\) thick, what's the potential difference across the membrane?

A proton, an alpha particle (a bare helium nucleus), and a singly ionized helium atom are accelerated through a \(100-\mathrm{V}\) potential difference. How much energy does each gain?

The potential in a region is \(V=a x y,\) where \(a\) is a constant. (a) Determine the electric field in the region. (b) Sketch some equipotentials and ficld lines.

How much work does it take to move a 50 - \(\mu\) C charge against a \(12-V\) potential difference?

Is the potential at the center of a hollow, uniformly charged spherical shell higher than, lower than, or the same as at the surface?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Radiation

Read Explanation

Linear Momentum

Read Explanation

Waves Physics

Read Explanation

Fields in Physics

Read Explanation

Magnetism

Read Explanation

Oscillations

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.