genuine question

[m1ck_b87]

Hi all I know a lot of people on this forum won't know this so I'm going to bring it up, potential difference.

Potential difference is voltage, so if I measure between live and a metal object will I get 230v. It is a difference in potential at the end of the day.

 

[Tridentsystems]

And your question is ?

 

[m1ck_b87]

My question is if I measure between live and any conductive object will I get 230v

 

[Baker1988]

aslong as the piece of metal is connected to earth in some way yes you should

 

[micknew]

Thats like asking if you would get a voltage between the positive and negative of 2 different batteries, what do you think?

 

[m1ck_b87]

Thats like asking if you would get a voltage between the positive and negative of 2 different batteries, what do you think?

So the object has got to connect to earth.

 

[m1ck_b87]

Why does it have to be connected to earth surely there's potential in anything conductive

 

[Tridentsystems]

Is this for real ? It's year 4 science With all due respect

 

[ayjay]

depends on the resistance of the earth
the neutral would be the best thing
are you a young lad?

 

[trev]

Why does it have to be connected to earth surely there's potential in anything conductive

If that's the case why don't birds get fried when they sit on power lines, There has to be a path to earth.

 

[Sintra]

Yes the circuit needs to be completed.

 

[micknew]

The potential is created by the generator or battery etc., conductors only have potential when connected to the power source.

 

[Tridentsystems]

Anything conductive has a potential to conduct, different to potential difference however

 

[m1ck_b87]

Why does it have to be connected to earth surely there's potential in anything conductive

If that's the case why don't birds get fried when they sit on power lines, There has to be a path to earth.

Why doesn't the electrical current pass through 1 birds leg and out the other and fry the bird

 

[Tridentsystems]

Have a google of current flow theory etc on some science sites. May help your understanding if you begin with simple battery circuits etc and even look at the analogies of water flow to visualise it

 

[Tridentsystems]

Minimal potential difference between feet. Electricity likes the path of least resistance. Offer the bird a nearby ground potential and you get a fried snack as the current wants to get to earth and the bird becomes the conductor

 

[trev]

Why doesn't the electrical current pass through 1 birds leg and out the other and fry the bird

Now I know you're having a laugh pal.

 

[micknew]

Why doesn't the electrical current pass through 1 birds leg and out the other and fry the bird

Because the potential difference between the birds feet is minute as the birds legs are close together.

 

[telectrix]

Why doesn't the electrical current pass through 1 birds leg and out the other and fry the bird

in actual fact, some current will flow through the bird's legs, as the bird is a parallel resistance to the wire it's standing on. however, the resistance of the bird's body is far greater than that of the cable between it's feet and so the current flow through the bird is negligible.

google resistors in parallel.

 

[micknew]

Now I know you're having a laugh pal.

And of course Trev your right, a plumber taking the P.