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11-04-2006, 07:39 PM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,765
| |  Two questions.
 I travelled to London for the day today and I have two questions to ask.
1. Why don't birds get electrocuted when they stand on the railway tracks?
2. Do the mice that live in the London underground know that there is electricity running through the tracks because they seem to keep away?
I watched these events in fascination today, got some funny looks but am puzzling over them. Thanks to all scientists. ww |
11-04-2006, 07:43 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,613
| | | Re: Two questions.
Well, I believe the answer to number one is because they are not earthed so they don't get a shock.
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Better to ask a silly question, than make a silly mistake! |
11-04-2006, 07:44 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 3,261
| | | Re: Two questions.
I thought that only one railway line had electricity running through it. Do the birds use all of the lines? The mice might well smell or feel the power going through the lines. I am sure that many years ago I either read or heard that the mice wait until the electricity is turned off before going along the tunnels to the next station. Presumably to visit the relatives.
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A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.
W.H.Davies |
11-04-2006, 07:46 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,613
| | | Re: Two questions.
I expect they can hear the buzz of the electricity in the tracks.
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Better to ask a silly question, than make a silly mistake! |
11-04-2006, 07:49 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,765
| | | Re: Two questions.
Digi- excuse my being dim but what does 'earthed' actually mean? |
11-04-2006, 07:51 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Stoke on Trent
Posts: 1,205
| | | Re: Two questions.
Only one rail has power running through it, and both need to be in contact with a body to shock it, if I recall. |
11-04-2006, 07:52 PM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 12,178
| | | Re: Two questions.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman Digi- excuse my being dim but what does 'earthed' actually mean? | You won't get a shock if your isolated from mother earth...The power line is insulated from the ground, so a bird can sit happily on it and nothing will happen. |
11-04-2006, 07:53 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,613
| | | Re: Two questions.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman Digi- excuse my being dim but what does 'earthed' actually mean? | One foot would need to touch the ground (earth) to short the power and get an electric shock.
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Better to ask a silly question, than make a silly mistake! |
11-04-2006, 07:54 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,765
| |  Re: Two questions.
So why would we get a shock then if we stood on it? |
11-04-2006, 07:56 PM
|  | Frozen | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.E. Lincolnshire
Posts: 4,130
| | | Re: Two questions.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman So why would we get a shock then if we stood on it? | One foot on the ground, one foot on the rail....BANG  |
11-04-2006, 07:58 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 12,178
| | | Re: Two questions.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman So why would we get a shock then if we stood on it? | I hope your not mad enough to try and jump on it to test it.. That would be a very silly thing to do.  One slip and goodnight.. |
11-04-2006, 08:02 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,765
| |  Re: Two questions.
Oh right. So a bird would have to do the same but they don't step like we do. Think I've got it. (Bet you're all glad I'm not an electrician!) |
11-04-2006, 08:07 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,613
| | | Re: Two questions.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman Oh right. So a bird would have to do the same but they don't step like we do. Think I've got it. (Bet you're all glad I'm not an electrician!) | If you were an electrician you would not be here now asking the question 
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Better to ask a silly question, than make a silly mistake! |
11-04-2006, 08:15 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,765
| | | Re: Two questions.
Just off to have a bath. Like to stand the telly on the end while i soak! ZAP! |
11-04-2006, 08:23 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,613
| | | Re: Two questions.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Wild-Woman Just off to have a bath. Like to stand the telly on the end while i soak! ZAP! | Well you don't need to put a foot on the floor providing the TV is still plugged in because the earth wire will ground the current. Very dangerous!
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Better to ask a silly question, than make a silly mistake! |
11-04-2006, 08:42 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,351
| | | Re: Two questions.
OK here is a teaser for you.
I regularly pass 400 volts through my body and light a lightbulb in my hand. It is also high current. How is this possible? |
11-04-2006, 08:53 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,613
| | | Re: Two questions.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Boddie OK here is a teaser for you.
I regularly pass 400 volts through my body and light a lightbulb in my hand. It is also high current. How is this possible? |
Static charge
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11-04-2006, 08:55 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cornwall..
Posts: 1,476
| | | Re: Two questions.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Boddie OK here is a teaser for you.
I regularly pass 400 volts through my body and light a lightbulb in my hand. It is also high current. How is this possible? | Thats shocking Boddie..............Jon |
11-04-2006, 08:57 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,351
| | | Re: Two questions.
Nope
I don't think you would get static to 400 volts, high current and believe me 400 volts, high current, under normal circumstances would not be tolerable. I am talking sustained light bulb lighting for minutes if necessary. Its a little trick I do to amuse nurses and often get them to take the charge also.
Another guess? |
11-04-2006, 08:58 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,613
| | | Re: Two questions.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Boddie Nope
I don't think you would get static to 400 volts, high current and believe me 400 volts, high current, under normal circumstances would not be tolerable. I am talking sustained light bulb lighting for minutes if necessary. Its a little trick I do to amuse nurses and often get them to take the charge also.
Another guess? | Like the Vandergraff generator
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Better to ask a silly question, than make a silly mistake! |
11-04-2006, 08:59 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cornwall..
Posts: 1,476
| | | Re: Two questions.
Am I right in thinking that it is the amps that kill you and not the volts................Jon |
11-04-2006, 09:00 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,613
| | | Re: Two questions.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Jonny Am I right in thinking that it is the amps that kill you and not the volts................Jon | Correct!
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Better to ask a silly question, than make a silly mistake! |
11-04-2006, 09:03 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,351
| | | Re: Two questions.
Yes but current is measured in amps, and as I said it is high current.
Vandergraff is low amps. |
11-04-2006, 09:05 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,613
| | | Re: Two questions.
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Boddie Yes but current is measured in amps, and as I said it is high current.
Vandergraff is low amps. | Well providing you don't earth yourself you can pass high current through yourself.
Believe me I have done it!
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Better to ask a silly question, than make a silly mistake! |
11-04-2006, 09:11 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,351
| | | Re: Two questions.
I do it whilst fully earthed, stood upright, and I don't even flinch. A colleague did it once, but forgot a fundamental rule and ended up blowing a filling. Such was the charge the filling expanded then contracted to its original size and promptly fell out. Needless to say he was a little shocked. | | | |
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