Electrical Safety Q&A
"Why don't birds get electrocuted when they land and rest on electrical power lines?"
As long as a bird is not touching anything but the power line, the bird and the line are at the same voltage, meaning they're both in the air. However, if a bird lands on a power line and touches another object such as a utility pole or a tree at the same time it is in contact with a power line, the bird gives electricity a path to the ground. Electricity will flow through the bird to get to the ground and most likely electrocute it.
The thing to remember is that electricity is always looking for a path to the ground. It's the nature of electricity to move from an area of higher voltage to an area of lower voltage. The ground is simply the lowest-voltage area around, so if you give electricity a path to the ground, it will take it, no questions asked! When electricity goes into the ground, the earth absorbs its energy.
Electricity travels through things that it can flow through easily. We call them conductors. Metals such as copper and aluminum are good conductors of electricity, which is why most electrical wires are made of metal. Water is another good conductor. Because your body is mostly water, electricity can travel through you, which is why you have to respect its awesome power. "Aren't your power lines insulated?"
Our power lines ARE NOT insulated for human contact, meaning you should never physically touch a power line. It's always best to stay away from power lines. Assume all power lines are energized.
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