/*! 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 11 High-voltage power lines are use... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91影视

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Chapter 23: Problem 11

High-voltage power lines are used to transport electricity cross country. These wires are favored resting places for birds. Why don't the birds die when they touch the wires?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: Birds don't die when they touch high-voltage power lines because they don't create a closed circuit, which allows significant electric current to flow through their bodies. The power lines provide a path of least resistance for the current, ensuring that any current passing through the bird is negligible and not harmful.

Step by step solution

01

Understand electric current

Electric current is the flow of electric charge through a conductor. In order for electrical current to flow, there has to be a closed circuit. A closed circuit is a complete, unbroken loop through which charges can flow from high electrical potential (voltage) to low potential.
02

Birds and closed circuits

When a bird perches on a high-voltage power line, it is not creating a closed circuit. This is because the bird's body is only in contact with one wire, and there is no connection to another wire or to the ground for the charges to flow back to the low potential region. So, the bird doesn't provide an opportunity for the charges in the wire to flow through its body.
03

Path of least resistance

Even though birds have some resistance, the electric current would preferentially flow through the path of least resistance. Since the high-voltage power lines are made of conductive materials with very low resistance, the majority of the electric current will continue to flow through the power line rather than the bird.
04

Minimal current in birds

Although a minuscule amount of current may pass through the bird due to its presence on the wire, this is not enough to cause harm. The bird's body does not provide a direct path for the flow of electric charges between high and low electrical potential regions, so the current passing through the bird is insignificant. In conclusion, birds don't die when they touch high-voltage power lines because they don't create a closed circuit that enables significant electric current to flow through their bodies. The power lines provide a path of least resistance for the current, ensuring that any current passing through the bird is negligible and not harmful.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The amount of work done to move a positive point charge \(q\) on an equipotential surface of \(1000 \mathrm{~V}\) relative to that on an equipotential surface of \(10 \mathrm{~V}\) is a) the same. d) dependent on the b) less. distance the charge c) more. moves.

An electric field is established in a nonuniform rod. A voltmeter is used to measure the potential difference between the left end of the rod and a point a distance \(x\) from the left end. The process is repeated, and it is found that the data are described by the relationship \(\Delta V=270 x^{2},\) where \(\Delta V\) has the units \(\mathrm{V} / \mathrm{m}^{2}\). What is the \(x\) -component of the electric field at a point \(13 \mathrm{~cm}\) from the left end?

What would be the consequence of setting the potential at \(+100 \mathrm{~V}\) at infinity, rather than taking it to be zero there? a) Nothing; the field and the potential would have the same values at every finite point. b) The electric potential would become infinite at every finite point, and the electric field could not be defined. c) The electric potential everywhere would be \(100 \mathrm{~V}\) higher, and the electric field would be the same. d) It would depend on the situation. For example, the potential due to a positive point charge would drop off more slowly with distance, so the magnitude of the electric field would be less.

Suppose that an electron inside a cathode ray tube starts from rest and is accelerated by the tube's voltage of \(21.9 \mathrm{kV}\). What is the speed (in \(\mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s}\) ) with which the electron (mass \(=9.11 \cdot 10^{-31} \mathrm{~kg}\) ) hits the screen of the tube?

In which situation is the electric potential the highest? a) at a point \(1 \mathrm{~m}\) from a point charge of \(1 \mathrm{C}\) b) at a point \(1 \mathrm{~m}\) from the center of a uniformly charged spherical shell of radius \(0.5 \mathrm{~m}\) with a total charge of \(1 \mathrm{C}\) c) at a point \(1 \mathrm{~m}\) from the center of a uniformly charged rod of length \(1 \mathrm{~m}\) and with a total charge of \(1 \mathrm{C}\) d) at a point \(2 \mathrm{~m}\) from a point charge of \(2 \mathrm{C}\) e) at a point \(0.5 \mathrm{~m}\) from a point charge of \(0.5 \mathrm{C}\)
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