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Chapter 19: Q26Q (page 796)

Why can birds perch on the bare wire of a power line without being electrocuted?

Short Answer

Expert verified

A bird doesn't get electrocuted while sitting on a live wire since the point where its feet touch the wire are at a same potential and hence no current passes through its body.

Step by step solution

01

Given data

Birds can sit on live wires without getting electrocuted.

02

Flow of current

Current flows through a path when there is a potential difference between the end points of the path. Also in the presence of multiple paths between two points having a potential difference, the current prefers the path of least resistance.

03

Determination of the reason why birds can sit on live wires

There is very little potential drop when current passes through overhead wires. Thus when a bird sits on a live wire, the points where its feet touch the wire are practically at the same potential. Hence no current passes through the bird's body. If a slight potential difference is present, the current prefers the path of the wire to the bird's body since the wire is much more conducting.

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