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Lesson: Chapter 19 — Current Electricity

19. Electricity and safety 2 of 5

Question 2

Why is a bird sitting on a bare high-voltage cable unharmed?

The right answer is the one marked above.

Its two feet are at the same potential. It touches the wire at two places, but with no potential difference between them no electrons flow through its body.

The cable’s voltage is measured with respect to the ground, and the bird is not touching the ground. What matters is the difference between the two points it is touching.

Answer the question to continue.