Why don't birds get electrocuted on power lines?

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  • Опубліковано 22 лип 2024
  • Have you ever wondered why birds can safely sit on electrical wires whereas humans get electrocuted if they try to touch them?
    The reason why has a lot to do with how electricity flows. Watch this video to find out the answer.
    To get the latest science and technology news, subscribe to our newsletter “The Blueprint” at bit.ly/3BDdN5e
    #engineering
  • Наука та технологія

КОМЕНТАРІ • 4,2 тис.

  • @Interestingengineeringofficial
    @Interestingengineeringofficial  4 місяці тому +1

    ⚙ Want to know more about the latest tech and innovations? Don’t Miss Out!
    *SUBSCRIBE & HIT THE BELL* 👉bit.ly/SubscribeNowIE

  • @mr.unknown2447
    @mr.unknown2447 4 роки тому +13809

    They dont get electrocuted because they are flying robots that recharge by sitting on power lines

    • @zachb8012
      @zachb8012 3 роки тому +394

      This is exactly where I thought the video was going in the first 30 seconds. "What magical ability do they have?"

    • @3bigbignig-abandoned
      @3bigbignig-abandoned 3 роки тому +646

      Yes. Because they are government drones.

    • @TheExoticCerdos
      @TheExoticCerdos 3 роки тому +76

      @@3bigbignig-abandoned sure.... 😂

    • @3bigbignig-abandoned
      @3bigbignig-abandoned 3 роки тому +98

      @@TheExoticCerdos 😂

    • @padraigrab08
      @padraigrab08 3 роки тому +15

      Lol

  • @ezekieldujambi8427
    @ezekieldujambi8427 2 роки тому +1457

    Respect for the bird who took part in the demonstration in the name of science. She will be retweeted.

  • @caryd67
    @caryd67 Рік тому +146

    I can still remember being really young, maybe 4 or 5, walking with my grandma and asking her, “why can the birds sit on the wire?” Her reply: “they have special feet.”

    • @joelwilliams3790
      @joelwilliams3790 Рік тому +8

      Was thinking down the same line. GOD made them UNIQUE.

    • @johnsheetz6639
      @johnsheetz6639 Рік тому

      😆!

    • @bamf6603
      @bamf6603 Рік тому +2

      i know old people relating everything with god

    • @JBofBrisbane
      @JBofBrisbane Рік тому +4

      Translation: I don't know either, young'un!

    • @caryd67
      @caryd67 Рік тому

      @@bamf6603 I know, right?

  • @johndoe123xyz
    @johndoe123xyz 2 роки тому +1149

    2:56 for those of you wondering why these guys are touching two wires and are still alive, the wires are at the same potential. This is a three-phase circuit with 2 wires per phase, and the two wires conduct the exact same current with the exact same voltage, so it's basically like touching two different parts of a very thick wire

    • @woodenseagull1899
      @woodenseagull1899 2 роки тому +8

      Jou are taking this too seriously...!

    • @primitivochapa5877
      @primitivochapa5877 2 роки тому +1

      True

    • @sergiolerma6069
      @sergiolerma6069 2 роки тому +2

      Same potential

    • @minerran
      @minerran 2 роки тому +17

      Three phase voltages are not the same potential, they are each 60 degrees out of phase so you are wrong. If the bird is standing on two wires simultaneously which I doubt (birds are small and wires are never placed only inches apart with thousands of volts on them) then the wires are probably not hot, maybe ground wires, cable or something else. If you touch two wires of a three phase system on a power pole, you'd be going to see the angels, so would a bird!

    • @johndoe123xyz
      @johndoe123xyz 2 роки тому +75

      @@minerran he's not touching two different phases, he's touching two wires of the same phase, there are 6 wires total

  • @highconnery472
    @highconnery472 3 роки тому +512

    Imagine being this badass sitting on powerlines and shitting on humans

    • @anmol7060
      @anmol7060 3 роки тому +14

      I can only dream

    • @brandonbeard8488
      @brandonbeard8488 3 роки тому +3

      😄😂😂

    • @highconnery472
      @highconnery472 3 роки тому +22

      @Zephyrean is that all you got? And stop liking your own comment ffs

    • @ReviloAnimations
      @ReviloAnimations 3 роки тому +11

      @@highconnery472 watch out, hes the type of guy to correct a youtube comment due to one mistake

    • @shreejitparmar339
      @shreejitparmar339 3 роки тому +6

      @@highconnery472 Nice name

  • @nairzD
    @nairzD 3 роки тому +2052

    I feel so bad for laughing at that bird that just went drop

    • @sillycheese301
      @sillycheese301 3 роки тому +48

      Same lol

    • @TheDamnoranges
      @TheDamnoranges 3 роки тому +29

      Same, lmao.

    • @GraveUypo
      @GraveUypo 3 роки тому +205

      don't worry, it survived. got stunned but flew away in less than half a minute
      ua-cam.com/video/p8HUj37nEJY/v-deo.html

    • @MultiGEARS117
      @MultiGEARS117 3 роки тому +23

      @@GraveUypo thx

    • @chiefdenis
      @chiefdenis 3 роки тому +18

      @@GraveUypo i thought it was lights out for sure

  • @slashine1071
    @slashine1071 Рік тому +51

    As a bird, this safety video has been very informative.

    • @leoncorbett4553
      @leoncorbett4553 Рік тому +1

      You’re not real

    • @josorr
      @josorr 11 місяців тому +3

      I'm going to go out on a limb (no pun intended) and guess that you typed your comment using the "hunt and peck" method.

    • @CurlyFromTheSwirly
      @CurlyFromTheSwirly 10 місяців тому +1

      ​@@josorr,
      No, they have their hooman servants type for them.

  • @nobodyimportant4778
    @nobodyimportant4778 2 роки тому +151

    Note: while electrons do move between the power source and your device, if you had to wait for them to travel that whole distance to get a charge, you would be waiting a very, very long time.
    Instead, the energy comes from the electrons already inside your device being accelerated by the electric field.
    The circuit simply decides the shape and size of the electric field

    • @PaulTeller-kj1cn
      @PaulTeller-kj1cn Рік тому +6

      shocking!

    • @mikemacdonald2032
      @mikemacdonald2032 Рік тому

      A/c current flows at 60 times throughout the sinewave per second....aka 60 hertz ...so that's not really a long time

    • @nobodyimportant4778
      @nobodyimportant4778 Рік тому +17

      @@mikemacdonald2032 that's not the rate of electrons passing through the current...

    • @transistorsloop
      @transistorsloop Рік тому +2

      Also i have a question!
      If the birds sit on the same wire with equal potential so the charges do no flow through their body
      So can I also sit on the same live wire and do not get shock? Since i am sitting on same potential wire too...

    • @nobodyimportant4778
      @nobodyimportant4778 Рік тому +5

      @@transistorsloop a bird sitting on a power line is safe because it's only touching the wire. If it were to peck the wooden post while sitting on the wire, the bird would be treated as part of the circuit, causing the electrons in its body to move and electrocuting it.
      This happens because the electrons "bump" into its atoms and transfer energy to them.
      If an electric wire could hold a human's weight, it would still be very difficult for someone to climb onto it without touching anything else at the same time, but not impossible.

  • @senor1928
    @senor1928 3 роки тому +1599

    I love how they straight up showed us a clip of a bird getting electrocuted.

    • @jibbymarket
      @jibbymarket 3 роки тому +27

      He just said. pce

    • @jaydenfrancis6467
      @jaydenfrancis6467 3 роки тому +8

      Was that not from the wires touching each other

    • @RonanTetsu
      @RonanTetsu 3 роки тому +65

      @@jaydenfrancis6467 They still got electrocuted lol. While most people don't know why birds don't get shocked they also don't know how birds would get shocked.

    • @jaydenfrancis6467
      @jaydenfrancis6467 3 роки тому +6

      @@RonanTetsu I didn't take that in tbh

    • @kennyc388
      @kennyc388 3 роки тому +41

      That bird was dead quicker than instantly !

  • @scooterbum4288
    @scooterbum4288 3 роки тому +843

    In the 50s, as a boy I knew of a farmer that was a self taught electrician. He did odd jobs for farmers in the area. He would always show up for the job with a case of beer, which he would stand on while working. In those days they were made of heavy duty cardboard and glass bottles which you would return for credit. He said it made a very good insulator and you could always drink the beer.
    When sizing up a large job he would say "Well, thats a lot of beer!"

    • @mattmoore2304
      @mattmoore2304 3 роки тому +62

      Legend

    • @Bandicoot803
      @Bandicoot803 3 роки тому +65

      He's right regarding the bottles as insulators: They're even in use today since 1745 as "Leyden Jars" which are excellent capacitors for high voltage appliances. They are extremely sturdy against high voltage, made out of cheap material and don't degrade over time unlike electrolytic capacitors which tent to bloat'n'blow.
      Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyden_jar

    • @hypyeasv2667
      @hypyeasv2667 3 роки тому +14

      What a god

    • @WISHBONEL7
      @WISHBONEL7 3 роки тому +10

      "" Miller Time ""

    • @quickfixengineeringltd8035
      @quickfixengineeringltd8035 3 роки тому +14

      How was life in the 50s without smart phones sir. Do you think humans were smarter? Better in arithmetic or had better memory than now. Do you think smart phones made us dummies comparably. What would you say changed?

  • @priatalat
    @priatalat 2 роки тому +6

    Workers who repair power lines are literally heroes

  • @Den1seQu0ta
    @Den1seQu0ta 3 роки тому +387

    idk why I thought he was gonna say "To understand that, we must first become one with the birds."

    • @donutello_
      @donutello_ 3 роки тому +19

      I thought he was gonna say "to understand that, we need to talk about parallel universes."

    • @hanac5586
      @hanac5586 3 роки тому +6

      Sounds like a working method

    • @shane9245
      @shane9245 3 роки тому +2

      @@donutello_ **vsauce music starts**

    • @Robby4291
      @Robby4291 3 роки тому +1

      IDK , according to FORREST GUMP..."STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES". YOU QUALIFY. "Den1se".

    • @ireallyreallyhategoogle
      @ireallyreallyhategoogle Рік тому +1

      It would have made more sense than the error filled science talk that followed.

  • @barry7607
    @barry7607 3 роки тому +1804

    Because they always pay their "bill" on time ?

  • @AmericanOne9621
    @AmericanOne9621 Рік тому +41

    I worked for a local power company for 30 years before I retired 3 years ago. I can say yes the bucket trucks are insulated from the bucket to about 15 foot down the neck. I can also say that you will feel a shock though minor if you touch the wire without high voltage gloves on.

    • @terrylandess6072
      @terrylandess6072 Рік тому +4

      Thanks for your selfless work when storms hit and everyone is crying.

    • @AmericanOne9621
      @AmericanOne9621 Рік тому +7

      @@terrylandess6072 Now that I have retired I've joined the cry babies...ha!

    • @HighStakesDanny
      @HighStakesDanny Рік тому +2

      How do you know which wire to fix in Manila Philippines?

    • @AmericanOne9621
      @AmericanOne9621 Рік тому +2

      @@HighStakesDanny I'm not familiar with the equipment Manila has such as fuses, fault finders which hangs on the line. The easiest way is to see the wire broken (mostly falling trees here) and laying on the ground with the fuse barrel open. (hanging down).

  • @reueljacques
    @reueljacques Рік тому +3

    I suffered and survived 3 massive electrical discharges at the Washington DC VA hospital. I lost memory of the event for 4 years, lucky to be alive!!!

    • @sandasturner9529
      @sandasturner9529 2 місяці тому

      Wow! Can't imagine how much that hurts 🤕!!!!
      The most I can relate to is that I've been discharged from a hospital in 2022!!!
      Hope you have recovered well!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

  • @Sojourner7367
    @Sojourner7367 3 роки тому +131

    someone argued with me that the bird had rubber boots.

  • @dunkelheitserval4764
    @dunkelheitserval4764 3 роки тому +3685

    I'll remember this when i become a bird

    • @trakan7971
      @trakan7971 3 роки тому +35

      Here at 15 likes. I'm the 15th

    • @adambruins
      @adambruins 3 роки тому +22

      Me too i plan to become one with the doves one day and fly off into oblivion

    • @gerumanium_
      @gerumanium_ 3 роки тому +4

      HSHSHJKAGAHAJHAJAHSJAHSJWDKA

    • @Muhaiz
      @Muhaiz 3 роки тому +62

      good luck bro, I was a bird too before I got reincarnate into this ugly human being. My life was so much fun, hope you will too :)

    • @Rwdsach
      @Rwdsach 3 роки тому +8

      😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

  • @MasterSluggyKornNuts
    @MasterSluggyKornNuts Рік тому +3

    At a semiconductor plant where I worked a maintenance worker didn't put the lockout/tagout on the switch while he was working. A coworker turned it on and one of his arms got fried as the current moved through his body his other arm and one of his legs blew apart. Bless him he died from his injuries after 3 days and a couple of people got fired.

  • @tgclva6751
    @tgclva6751 Рік тому +18

    The electrons don't travel from the power plant to your house, that would be the case if it were DC (direct current) which is bad for long distances, instead it's AC (Alternating Current) meaning the electrons move back and forth in the wire (like you would use a saw)

    • @oriraykai3610
      @oriraykai3610 Рік тому +1

      The waves of voltage travel across the ocean of electrons in the wire just like the waves on the surface of the ocean.

    • @in4327-0
      @in4327-0 Рік тому +1

      So each wire has its own AC wave?

    • @Ignisan_66
      @Ignisan_66 Рік тому +4

      DC is not bad for long distances (its actually better, look up high voltage DC lines), DC is only harder to transform to a higher or lower voltage, AC can be transformed using transformers which is the main reason why AC is used.

  • @38SRI
    @38SRI 3 роки тому +837

    I was here from the video - "Birds make transformer explode in *Houston*"

  • @frstnme316
    @frstnme316 3 роки тому +963

    "They still need to make sure they only touch one wire at a time though"
    Next clip:
    *electricians crawling on two wires at a time*

    • @kth66
      @kth66 3 роки тому +28

      I noticed it too

    • @Sunfish789
      @Sunfish789 3 роки тому +8

      ikr

    • @matthewkuhl79
      @matthewkuhl79 3 роки тому +206

      Those are parallel conductors of the same phase - no difference in potential.

    • @frstnme316
      @frstnme316 3 роки тому +101

      @@matthewkuhl79 thanks for that, figured there was some reason behind it and it was safe... just kinda bad timing with the edit for those who are not in the know lol

    • @matthewkuhl79
      @matthewkuhl79 3 роки тому +25

      @@frstnme316 i don't consider it _safe,_ but safe in the sense of getting shocked i guess. Medium voltage and above terrifies me 😬

  • @jnac8857
    @jnac8857 2 роки тому

    Yaay, you just answered one of things that have bugged me everytime I see those birds sitting on the wires. Awesome!

  • @jamesmooney8933
    @jamesmooney8933 2 роки тому +3

    Yes, as an Electrician I have touched 120v electrical lines, but there are some tricks involved.
    First you can be grounded. Electricians never used aluminum ladders because aluminum conducts electricity, and would ground you. Electrician use fiberglass ladders, which don't conduct electricity.
    Also you don't touch the other 120v line or the neutral line.

    • @antonkemperjr4128
      @antonkemperjr4128 2 роки тому

      The outlets in American homes are 120v three wires hot, neutral, and ground. Don't play with electric a small current can stop your heat instantly. Then elec. stoves, HVAC, Clothes Dryer, water heaters use 240v. Again if you don't know much about it do not play with electric it can kill

    • @jamesmooney8933
      @jamesmooney8933 2 роки тому

      @@antonkemperjr4128 The secret is to learn. Always work with one hand, when you think the wire might be hot. Why? because if one hand is ground and the other is touching a hot wire then the current goes thru you heart.
      220v is 120v +120v, there is no neutral on 220v, but the 120v conductor must be on another phase.
      This gets a little complicated. You have to study about phases.
      At the power plant, the generator has 3 phases or 3 taps

  • @floofiekun1875
    @floofiekun1875 3 роки тому +220

    2:18 Props for using that Home Alone clip

    • @CeilingFanVideosOnYT
      @CeilingFanVideosOnYT 3 роки тому +6

      I noticed that too! He eventually won a prize for robbing! A free ride in a police car!

    • @aperson6863
      @aperson6863 3 роки тому +2

      @fucku weebsnfurries woah there partner! You can't tell someone on the internet to change their pfp just because you, a non weeb, doesn't like anime.

    • @aperson6863
      @aperson6863 3 роки тому +1

      @fucku weebsnfurries not all weebs are coomers and not all of them watch 🐔👔 ... Only a devoted and extremely lonely few turn into coomers who can't stop watching the *hen* wearing a *tie.*
      Also, not everyone likes 'murican and european shows.

    • @aperson6863
      @aperson6863 3 роки тому +4

      @fucku weebsnfurries ah... I see...
      You're a troll!
      No wonder you have that absurdly long about page.

  • @MrBrightXCVI
    @MrBrightXCVI 3 роки тому +2085

    Thanks for this informative video.

    • @primuse.x.e6141
      @primuse.x.e6141 3 роки тому +1

      Hello there

    • @ShiratoriIsOffline
      @ShiratoriIsOffline 3 роки тому

      Greetings

    • @JoblessMusic
      @JoblessMusic 3 роки тому +7

      Thank you for thanking them for this informative video.

    • @dylanh609
      @dylanh609 3 роки тому +6

      @@JoblessMusic thank you for thanking them for thanking them for this informative video

    • @vexture2466
      @vexture2466 3 роки тому +5

      @@dylanh609 thank you for thanking them for thanking them for thanking them for this informative video.

  • @sailingaway7170
    @sailingaway7170 2 роки тому +7

    Very interesting. I have always been scared that they will get electrocuted when I see them on power Lines.

  • @crestonperry2891
    @crestonperry2891 2 роки тому +2

    This video gave me a total appreciation for bird 🐦 brain information.

  • @aronsumisu6173
    @aronsumisu6173 3 роки тому +113

    1:33 the way the bird folded 💀

  • @Flopshop123
    @Flopshop123 3 роки тому +325

    That's cool and all but is no one gonna talk about the poor bird at 1:31

    • @reigningtoast5503
      @reigningtoast5503 3 роки тому +10

      I feel bad for laughing at the bird

    • @cosmickitty3720
      @cosmickitty3720 3 роки тому +9

      Dont feel bad its alive

    • @stighma
      @stighma 3 роки тому +30

      @RainFall how does feeling bad for a bird getting electrocuted relate to veganism? There is literally no mention of eating meat or birds in the video or this comment

    • @ChampaRealLordChampa
      @ChampaRealLordChampa 3 роки тому +21

      I watched the full video, it was stunned for a bit but flew off perfectly fine

    • @kati3514
      @kati3514 3 роки тому +17

      @@stighma person they replied to probably deleted their comments. They commented a month ago too. :|

  • @ironjohn5914
    @ironjohn5914 2 роки тому +2

    I seen a bird one day and it was sitting on a wire I stopped looked up at it and started to talk to it we had one of the greatest conversations ever!

    • @dang48
      @dang48 2 місяці тому +1

      I heard about this on Twitter. The bird gave you a positive review in its tweet.

  • @rodneycooperjr3223
    @rodneycooperjr3223 Рік тому +1

    I love videos that attract intelligent conversations, rather than a bunch of trolls looking for a stranger to fight with.

  • @BillyMcBillface
    @BillyMcBillface 3 роки тому +250

    I remember watching a squirrel running along a wire in elementary school. It went near the pole and all the sudden a big smoky flash and he fell to the street. Knocked out power to a few blocks! We had to stay outside because the school wouldn’t let us in without working lights. We had like a 1 hour lunch break, it was sick

  • @morie8347
    @morie8347 3 роки тому +250

    Yo i literally watched that bird that bites the electrical wire a minute ago

  • @cesarloya4525
    @cesarloya4525 Рік тому

    The curiosity has been killing me for years now i know thank you you have earned a sub

  • @blakespower
    @blakespower 3 роки тому +2

    in Maryland we have ospreys all over the place on cell towers on top of wooden electrical lines , they used to be just in the bay on specially designed platforms for them now they are growing in population

  • @doudymac
    @doudymac 3 роки тому +21

    1:31 Bird: Aight imma head out. 💀⚰️

  • @jesusyamatotv3099
    @jesusyamatotv3099 3 роки тому +403

    One day this will be in everyone's recommended and it'll get like 2+ million views over night.

  • @j.h.6081
    @j.h.6081 2 роки тому +3

    I was sad to hear a Canada Goose fly into a power line once. The sound was so loud, my friend, me, and other people crossing the street were very startled. It was sad to see the goose loose its struggle once he or she was on the ground. There was what looked like a burned hole in the bird's chest. That's a completely different scenario from your video but it was really startling.

  • @HeiMiBR
    @HeiMiBR Рік тому +14

    I actually saw a pigeon got electrocuted by powerlines on a rainy day, probably the raindrops from its flapping wings caused it to connect to 2 lines at once. The sparks and noises were quite phenomenal.

    • @killtie15
      @killtie15 Рік тому +7

      Sweet, a dinner AND a show!

    • @fosminclorin
      @fosminclorin Рік тому +3

      ​@@killtie15 that's what my cat would think

    • @rustydowd879
      @rustydowd879 Рік тому +2

      I once saw a squirrel bridge two wires. I remember a loud pop and it fell to the ground dead as a door nail. Didn't even twitch.

  • @CG64Mushro0m
    @CG64Mushro0m 3 роки тому +81

    1:33 from alive to dead in a second
    edit: i saw the longer version of the video, it actually didn't die, it was stunned

    • @aryandeep
      @aryandeep 3 роки тому +2

      @Onkar Jadhav i found that hilarious

    • @richie3602
      @richie3602 3 роки тому +3

      there are two types of people in the world

    • @aryandeep
      @aryandeep 3 роки тому

      @@richie3602 bro im not cold. i just find it funny, the way it fell down.

    • @haseebejaz
      @haseebejaz 3 роки тому

      Poor bird.

    • @CG64Mushro0m
      @CG64Mushro0m 3 роки тому +1

      @@haseebejaz don't worry, it probably didn't feel a thing

  • @curiouslyt2123
    @curiouslyt2123 3 роки тому +43

    Wow! The best explanation of how electricity flows for anyone who didn’t work with it.The more you know about something, the less scary it is and more predictable but electricity is still one of those things you MUST respect no matter how much you think you know about it.

    • @thebreifcaseman269
      @thebreifcaseman269 2 роки тому +3

      Electricity doesent flow in power lines its from what ive read the electromagnetic field created when the circuit is conected that allows the energy dto flow.

    • @WyrdNet
      @WyrdNet Рік тому

      @@thebreifcaseman269 That's right, the video has it all wrong in that respect. Electrons don't flow the way described.

  • @TheSilverSurfisher
    @TheSilverSurfisher Рік тому

    @ 2:30..."Hello Mr. George...yeah, I'm the new guy....the Old guy just quit...and me too"!

  • @Aaliyah_Matyevna
    @Aaliyah_Matyevna 2 роки тому

    The only easy video I found in youtube and google. Thanks for the video. I understood nothing from books.

  • @Wil_Dasovich
    @Wil_Dasovich 3 роки тому +750

    Interesting

  • @nafets6265
    @nafets6265 3 роки тому +20

    This is the most ask question during the first week of semester in an Electrical/Mechanical Engineering degree course

  • @Jtyoutube2467
    @Jtyoutube2467 2 роки тому +3

    I was asking my parents this question a few months ago about how does birds stand on the power lines with feeling the electricity on there feet when they stand on it.

  • @No_BS_policy
    @No_BS_policy 2 роки тому +1

    In short:
    Electricity is a term used to describe the flow of electrons through a medium with either a uniform electrical potential or a different electrical potential. When a conductor that is not attached to something else touches a medium having uniform electrical potential, the flow of electrons remains within the loop as there is no other electrical potential to travel to. But if a conductor is, say, attached to the ground, then electricity will flow from the higher potential to the lower potential through it.

  • @HeavenlyCelestia
    @HeavenlyCelestia 3 роки тому +363

    Very informative video, surprised this doesn't have more views.

    • @foxsaysnani7712
      @foxsaysnani7712 3 роки тому +4

      It doesn’t have more views because it takes the brain of a cow to understand the concept.

    • @ambalavanant
      @ambalavanant 3 роки тому +7

      There is your answer. It's informative. That's why less views

    • @uncontrollablyrage19
      @uncontrollablyrage19 3 роки тому +2

      Realy informative video, it answered allnmy questions.

    • @keneleven-11
      @keneleven-11 3 роки тому

      Because we already know.

    • @N9TheNoob
      @N9TheNoob 3 роки тому +1

      how do you not know this?!??

  • @nanofate8662
    @nanofate8662 3 роки тому +151

    An information video that gets straight to the point while remaining under 10 mins. You earned a sub, sir.

    • @yell0wberry
      @yell0wberry Рік тому +1

      Now I see why electricians who work for the city get paid as much as $100 an hour just on straight time

  • @gloriasandy2639
    @gloriasandy2639 2 роки тому

    Amazing! This was something that always intrigued me. Why birds do not get electrocuted while sitting on the power line

  • @TheRoswellCode
    @TheRoswellCode Рік тому +1

    How heavy birds with small wings can fly up to power lines in the first place is more intriguing.

    • @CurlyFromTheSwirly
      @CurlyFromTheSwirly 10 місяців тому +1

      Or how hummingbirds can stay in the same spot

  • @Mikey-ym6ok
    @Mikey-ym6ok 3 роки тому +34

    2:30 these guys are masters beyond measure. They have balls of steel.

    • @Robby4291
      @Robby4291 3 роки тому +1

      YOU have brains of OATMEAL....

    • @vanhattfield8292
      @vanhattfield8292 2 роки тому +2

      Maybe, but more likely balls of a less conductive substance, lol.

  • @toxicity6629
    @toxicity6629 3 роки тому +16

    2:30 my mans really almost got hit with force lightning and just looks calm asf lmao

    • @redrosie7498
      @redrosie7498 3 роки тому

      Don't worry he also has the force to push it back

  • @oopriyapriya
    @oopriyapriya 27 днів тому

    Thank you for this great info..especially to the question that i've pondered over since long.
    Also..very appropriate but then seemed sombre all of a sudden..i did crack up at the Daniel Stern-Home Alone clip. 😅👍🙂

  • @dsjenzen
    @dsjenzen 2 роки тому +3

    In my country, civet cats usually climb and travel via the wires in urban areas. They never seemed to get electrocuted as well.

    • @evilsharkey8954
      @evilsharkey8954 Рік тому +1

      A lot of those wires are communications cables, not electric wires

    • @TheMrPeteChannel
      @TheMrPeteChannel Рік тому

      @@evilsharkey8954 and they are insulated.

  • @DarkOceanShark
    @DarkOceanShark 3 роки тому +7

    2:02 my man got some really cool moves 😂

  • @TheSlimmshadyy
    @TheSlimmshadyy 3 роки тому +242

    Plot twist:
    You are a bird, watching this to understand why you don't get electrocuted while chilling on power lines with your homies.

  • @gustavomedrano3628
    @gustavomedrano3628 Рік тому

    as a kid in el salvador i remember birds sleeping in the electric wires (usulutan alameda) i remember seeing a few dead on the pavement

  • @vladislavkaras491
    @vladislavkaras491 2 роки тому

    Short and informative.
    Thanks for the video!

  • @tescobakery1927
    @tescobakery1927 3 роки тому +3

    1:49 *Chuckles* I'm in danger

  • @PhilosophyThatMatters
    @PhilosophyThatMatters 3 роки тому +50

    This is one of my deepest teenage questions to which nobody I know gave a good answer. Thank you for finally putting my question to rest.

    • @monstrousdickzilla2744
      @monstrousdickzilla2744 Рік тому

      Now you can rest peacefully

    • @zaid.ann177
      @zaid.ann177 Рік тому

      Why did electrons didn't went through bird?
      Cuz electrons don't want to take a U turn to come in same path or what😂?

    • @valandhol9four680
      @valandhol9four680 Рік тому +1

      Except it's not true the electrons move along the power line to your home. It's better understood as a ripple along a jumping rope.

    • @cactusman1771
      @cactusman1771 Рік тому +1

      @@valandhol9four680 or a pulse in a stretched slinky.

  • @MrSqwertery
    @MrSqwertery Рік тому +1

    When the birds are young their feet are dipped in Rubber ...😂😂😂

  • @georgespruce6028
    @georgespruce6028 3 роки тому

    A Faraday cage is a good idea. When we worked on live high voltage this cage came in very handy.

  • @abhaysingh8345
    @abhaysingh8345 3 роки тому +12

    A must watch video for all the birds,
    Pet owners should educate their birds to spread awareness

  • @Soul-co7ki
    @Soul-co7ki 3 роки тому +48

    This question was in mind in years and thank you for making this clear to me.

  • @TheMultialdo2009
    @TheMultialdo2009 2 роки тому +1

    The house where I grew up had a power line in back. On several occasions a bird sitting on the wire or the transformer got electrocuted and landed in our back yard.

  • @Hadisahaku7683q
    @Hadisahaku7683q 11 місяців тому +1

    Thank god now I can watch this video I was looking for it

  • @Agnelum1
    @Agnelum1 3 роки тому +140

    I remember asking my high school physics teacher the question if a person can hang from a power line and avoid electrocution as long as they remain off the ground. He said it's also dependent on the "potential difference". I don't remember the explanation as he gave it to me, but what my brain stored is basically that you can't just hover 1cm off the ground while holding onto a high voltage line and expect not to get fried. So it's not just a simple matter of "as long as I don't touch the ground I'll be fine".

    • @ziphyperap3369
      @ziphyperap3369 2 роки тому +48

      Of course. Just because a material is an insulator doesn't mean electrons cant flow through it. Air itself isn't a conductor (luckily), but as you see, the worker at 2:30 is making the current flowing through air. Simply put, everything is a conductor when the voltage is high enough. Even things like glass or rubber. And thats why materials can also be "half conductors" and having a millimetre thick layer of rubber doesn't save you from getting shocked.

    • @tomtoms15
      @tomtoms15 2 роки тому +4

      Without a doubt. There's way too many variables. For example, things that are in your person, type of cloth, rings, what's on the ground as well, a million things. There's no black and white type situation where if u don't do this, then x thing won't happn, etc etc

    • @HyperMario64
      @HyperMario64 Рік тому +8

      Yeah it's not as clear cut. The rule of thumb is that 30kV per cm of air is necessary to have a current flow through it. But once the air gets ionized, the channel is open and it may expand further. Also in the real world, a bird is not at the same potential when it comes into contact with the live wire. It will take a bit of transient current for the charges in the bird body to equalize with the line. Good example is with linemen working on HV transmission lines from helicopters, they first connect to the line a rod connected to the helicopter body before working on it. At these high voltages the transient current is visible on camera as the rod approaches from the line. Same with AC (even with no load) on a power line, there is always some capacitance to the wire because a real-world wire, of course having a non-zero volume, necessarily stores some charge at any point. That's why we have reactors to correct that in substations (among other sources of reactance in the system). DC power may not seem to have that issue as the potential is constant, but in the real world no regulator is perfect and a AC component is always present. We have all these nice abstractions we can understand with these fancy elegant circuits diagrams, but there is always more to it...

    • @SC-zq6cu
      @SC-zq6cu Рік тому +3

      so if my feet are 2m above the ground i'm safe ?

    • @Johnnyy832
      @Johnnyy832 Рік тому +1

      It’s as long as there isn’t a voltage difference. Electricity likes taking the path of least resistance.

  • @konrad8541
    @konrad8541 3 роки тому +62

    So, if I end up hanging on a power line, I'll be fine as long as I don't touch the ground while I'm doing that. Got it.

  • @cayotelives
    @cayotelives 2 роки тому

    Electrical wire mastery 101 . Passed. Now Let's try that fancy cape

  • @108mtsan
    @108mtsan Рік тому

    So if we were not in contact with the floor and just jumped high enough to catch and hang on a cable, will we still get electrocuted since we are only in contact with the high potential wire?

  • @Bandicoot803
    @Bandicoot803 3 роки тому +94

    Allow me to correct a crucial mistake you made in your video about no current flowing through birds sitting on the single power line phase: Are you aware of the step voltage? When a current flows through a loop regardless of its length a certain differential loss is always present. That's why a bird on the power line represents a high-value resistor hooked up in parallel to the line it sits on unless it lifts one leg off and detaches the connection ( open circuit ). A barely noticeable amount of current also flows through its body, but no where nearly enough to be even noticed ( if at all ). Another dangerous situation takes place upon being near a thunderstorm when a lightning bolt strikes the earth at this point of time. The current flowing through the ground spreads 360° outwards. The further more out it flows, the more the voltage drops. That drop in voltage in relation to the distance from the starting point is a dangerous matter. A person walking nearby suddenly feels that voltage difference shooting through his/her legs, causing it to instantly feel uncomfortable and eventually collapsing. That's why it is important to keep both feet tight together in order to keep that crucial voltage difference as low as possible. Wether the voltage difference varies depends upon the earth conductivity in dry or wet condition. Also the amount of minerals and salt in the soil are a contrubiting factor in regards of the dirt chemistry.

    • @halil7588
      @halil7588 2 роки тому +17

      Perfect knowledge, when i apply job interview they asked me why birds don't get electricity on their body, I exactly explain that in your way. They little bit shocked but they liked my answer. I got magnetic field course. Thanks to this course :)

    • @googleevil9553
      @googleevil9553 2 роки тому +3

      Yes! yes! I knew that was the case, but no one mentions it. Very good day to you sir!

    • @MCAlexisYT
      @MCAlexisYT Рік тому

      What does “dirt chemistry” mean?

    • @SteveIsHavingMC
      @SteveIsHavingMC Рік тому +4

      @@MCAlexisYT what chemicals are in the dirt.

    • @Bandicoot803
      @Bandicoot803 Рік тому +3

      @@MCAlexisYT Defines what elements the individual earth layers are composed of.

  • @andthentheyallfook8582
    @andthentheyallfook8582 3 роки тому +73

    2:04 When your crush passes by

  • @Not-Aussie-boy-Parker
    @Not-Aussie-boy-Parker 2 роки тому

    Cockatoo’s hang upside down on them. Funny ass birds

  • @mpamizoemmanuel6474
    @mpamizoemmanuel6474 2 роки тому

    A bat watching this: 😠 that's some bullshit

  • @LivingWithTheGuzmans
    @LivingWithTheGuzmans 3 роки тому +333

    Thanks for the info

  • @mrunalbisan3647
    @mrunalbisan3647 3 роки тому +5

    I asked this question to the science teacher in my 9th standard 2011....after 10 years I am getting satisfactory answer. Thanks to youtube🙏

  • @lllWiseManlll
    @lllWiseManlll Рік тому

    Does it mean if someone hang on one wire he wont be struck (hanging in the air while holding the wire)?

  • @mariooimet2527
    @mariooimet2527 Місяць тому

    They use those high-voltage lines to keep feet warm in the winter. However, if the line happens to be not live in the winter, it can instantly freeze them stuck on it.

  • @sbreheny
    @sbreheny 3 роки тому +19

    The clip at 1:51 is a bit misleading. The very high voltage lines shown are actually dangerous for birds to land on and you won't see birds on them (they feel pain as they get close to the wire and avoid landing on it - usually - although sometimes they do get killed). The wires with birds on them in this clip are so-called "shield wires" and they are grounded. Their purpose is to help prevent direct lightning strikes to the power lines (the lightning will usually strike the grounded, higher shield wire instead). The reason why very high voltage (>100,000 V) lines are a problem for birds is that all objects, including birds, have a property called capacitance. The capacitance is bigger when the object is bigger. Since these (and almost all) lines are alternating current, connecting a capacitive load allows a small current flow (essentially electrons flow into and back out of the object on each cycle of the AC). The higher the voltage, the more current flow. A typical residential street high voltage line (about 10,000 V) isn't high enough voltage to affect the birds but large cross-country lines (typically 300,000 V) are a problem.

  • @ekowapeja
    @ekowapeja 3 роки тому +82

    What happens if a one legged bird lands on the wire

    • @kennethcohan9630
      @kennethcohan9630 3 роки тому +9

      Nothing would happen regarding current flow, as there has to be a complete circuit. However, if it had two legs and both feet were touching the same wire, then a current would flow through the bird but it would be so small that it wouldn’t feel it...

    • @Truestorytweez
      @Truestorytweez 3 роки тому +20

      Chicken nugget

    • @ekowapeja
      @ekowapeja 3 роки тому

      True the plug lol 😂😂😂

    • @Peter-976
      @Peter-976 3 роки тому +2

      Her name changes to Eileen!
      I`ll be here all week folks!

    • @StevePringle
      @StevePringle 3 роки тому

      @@Peter-976 Longer, actually. Comments don't delete. 😉

  • @roachtoasties
    @roachtoasties Рік тому +1

    Good news for birds, but some of those wires the birds were standing on weren't electrical wires. You got phone and cable, insulated wires and even cables that are helping support the pole.

  • @ppeev3003
    @ppeev3003 2 роки тому +1

    Great video. Thank you!

  • @sophiaisabelle0227
    @sophiaisabelle0227 3 роки тому +40

    I’ve always wondered about that. But even if they do end up getting electrocuted for some reason, there’d be numerous bird corpses lying around anywhere, and that’d also be a complete hassle to clean all of that up.

    • @studentofsmith
      @studentofsmith Рік тому +1

      Or the scavengers will have a free meal - cooked too.

  • @amardave84
    @amardave84 3 роки тому +42

    Electrical line man, the most dangerous job.

    • @damion1121
      @damion1121 3 роки тому +1

      The real crazy ones are the guys who do it out of a helicopter.

    • @BillC-64
      @BillC-64 3 роки тому +13

      One job where no is claiming to want diversity.

    • @robertleamon1419
      @robertleamon1419 3 роки тому +4

      @@BillC-64 there are multiple jobs where a particular group isn’t screaming for diversity. Oil rigs, mining, electricians, plumbing, hvac, road construction i can keep going.

  • @SommieAlpha
    @SommieAlpha 2 роки тому

    Very informative, thanks for sharing.

  • @Adarsh_mishra0911
    @Adarsh_mishra0911 2 роки тому

    Ur explaination was really osm thanku so much for this concept👍👍

  • @chelvierith
    @chelvierith 3 роки тому +3

    Nelly Furtado: Im like a bird!
    Technician: no youre not

  • @user-cd4bx6uq1y
    @user-cd4bx6uq1y 3 роки тому +11

    The silent kid when teacher explains nothing:

  • @thesauce1682
    @thesauce1682 2 роки тому

    That bird that got electrocuted caught me off guard lmao 😂

  • @FriendlyKat
    @FriendlyKat 2 роки тому +1

    As a kid, I was told it was because the electricity flowed on the bottom of the wire. 🤣LOL
    Cool video!

  • @epikgamur9621
    @epikgamur9621 3 роки тому +23

    1:34 I shouldn't be laughing at that 😂

  • @nxthgbutgemz
    @nxthgbutgemz 3 роки тому +10

    Lol that bird got too comfortable smh 1:32 I hope it’s in a better place 🙏

    • @ineedmorecarrots6063
      @ineedmorecarrots6063 3 роки тому +1

      Its alive i saw the whole video its just it lose its consciousness for a moment

    • @nxthgbutgemz
      @nxthgbutgemz 3 роки тому

      @@ineedmorecarrots6063 death wasn’t it’s destiny

  • @billlonee9470
    @billlonee9470 Рік тому

    I saw a bird fly into the wrong part of the setup, just the other night. Kaboom! Sparks everywhere.

  • @herewegoagain4041
    @herewegoagain4041 Рік тому

    2:56 pause it there. Talking about electrifying job. The thrill of highwire act and highvoltage intensity. Getting a rush at work for real

  • @ghostcoffee1099
    @ghostcoffee1099 3 роки тому +4

    Wow imagine having “The floor is Lava” as your job

  • @junzenlavapie4458
    @junzenlavapie4458 3 роки тому +20

    I'm using a headset right now, and that unexpected sound effect at 1:32 shocked me into battle stance.

  • @oriraykai3610
    @oriraykai3610 Рік тому

    Ground or return circuit has to come within several feet of the power line to complete the circuit on a dry day. Heavy humidity can increase that distance due to conductive impurities suspended in the air. This applies to anything in contact with the wire, like a bird sitting on it too.

  • @NINJA-tf6bf
    @NINJA-tf6bf 2 роки тому

    1:31 when you accidentally hit the class bully.