WONDER #1063: Do Birds Get Shocked When They Sit on Wires?
Question 1 of 3
What is a reason why birds don’t get shocked on power lines?
- special padding on their feet
- there is no difference in voltage on a single wire
- opposites attract
- there is not enough voltage in power lines
Question 2 of 3
Which scenario accurately describes the way electricity flows?
- from an area of 40,000 volts to an area of 15,000 volts
- along a path that has the most resistance
- from an area of 20,000 volts to an area of 35,000 volts
- none of these
Question 3 of 3
Which of these animals would get a large shock?
- a squirrel running across a power line
- a chipmunk hanging onto a 35,000-volt power line
- birds sitting on a power line
- a monkey holding onto a power line with one hand and a tree branch with the other
Check your answers online at https://wonderopolis.org/index.php/wonder/Do-Birds-Get-Shocked-When-They-Sit-on-Wires.