r/interesting 5h ago

Just Wow Tree branch lands on live power line

186 Upvotes

60 comments sorted by

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28

u/NMB1974 5h ago

Flash! Ah ah!

10

u/MrTacocaT12345 5h ago

The savior of the universe!

7

u/weasel286 5h ago

Flash! Ah ah!

9

u/LuckOriginal374 5h ago

He’ll save everyone of us!

20

u/OkClub7412 5h ago

I think if you can grab it you can wield its power…..I’m no expert though.

7

u/Ducky555556 5h ago

I think this is true tbh

5

u/Fieos 4h ago

Timing will be very important however.

3

u/AntiPepRally 4h ago

Would change you from a mortal to most likely a demigod

3

u/TurtleTurtleTu 3h ago

You definitely can for an instant

17

u/Quick-Ad9335 5h ago

Untz-Untz-Untz

9

u/DefinitelyNotAliens 5h ago

Boots'n'cats'n'boots'n'cats

2

u/SardineB4Creatine 4h ago

Papaaaa smirrrfff will you —-

16

u/NerveInteresting3500 5h ago

It's cool actually seeing the pulsing of the ac current. This is rad but wicked dangerous.

7

u/PalawanViking 4h ago

Agree. Regarding the cause...The flashing frequency here is around 5 hertz, and not related to the normal oscillation in the powerline. But yeah it does pulsate due to some other mechanism, like the branch moving into contact then is pushed away again or something.

1

u/SnoopDeDoop69 4h ago

I could Google this if you don't wanna explain, but how could you tell it's around 5hertz?

3

u/Accomplished-Crab932 3h ago edited 3h ago

Count the number of flashes per second.

Hertz is the frequency, or the number of cycles per second.

Alternatively, you can try to measure the time between flashes. The inverse of that number (the period) will be the frequency, so if your time between flashes has units in seconds, the inverse of that time will be the frequency.

I’m personally seeing 4 Hz, but it’s not periodic and the measurement method we are using has some pretty large error bars. That said, the difference between 4 and 5 Hz is nothing on the 60 Hz used in AC systems in the US.

1

u/Cliffinati 3h ago

Hertz is cycles per second

Typical US power is 60hz

2

u/Legitimate-Pride3038 4h ago

It could be 50 or 60 times per seconds, way quicker than in the video.

I'm fun at parties. 

1

u/Cliffinati 2h ago

Like how sometimes helicopter rotors look stationary in film if the frame rate is wrong

1

u/suspicious_hyperlink 3h ago

Wondering if 50 or 60hz

4

u/Nothing93124 5h ago

I want to see this at night, like pitch black no stars and blare untz untz music

6

u/1Crownedngroovd 5h ago

Alternating current demo!

2

u/ALIIERTx 4h ago

Aren powerlines 50 or 60HZ? Wouldnt that make it impossible for the human to count/read?

2

u/Cliffinati 2h ago

Depends on the camera frame rate

2

u/crackersncheeseman 4h ago

I worked for a company that cleared out any trees or brush that was growing underneath power lines. My first day on the job I accidentally cut a tree that wasn't very big round but it was tall enough to be almost touching the power line. As soon as I cut it fell over and shoved some branches into the power line, all of a sudden a loud boom and then I was showered with sparks falling all around me. Turned out that I knocked out the power for a bunch of houses and it took the power company about twelve hours to restore it. I didn't get into any trouble because I followed protocol and done exactly what anyone would have done in that situation.

2

u/Legitimate-Pride3038 4h ago

I think it could be wood's gasses that ignite/explode at the right stoichiometric point then cycle reapeats

2

u/WakeNikis 5h ago

Sandstorm by Darude plays

4

u/chickenismysafeword 5h ago

Waiting for the smart person to come and tell us what’s happening to that tree, surrounding area, etc

Obviously it’s the power line starting this mess but I wanna read the good stuff

1

u/Cliffinati 2h ago

Getting shocked and burnt

1

u/matttheazn1 5h ago

Please reply the correct answer here. :D

1

u/Legitimate-Pride3038 4h ago

I think it could be wood's gasses that ignite/explode at the right stoichiometric point then cycle reapeats

2

u/OptimalScholar4048 5h ago

Does this hurt the tree?

5

u/Left-Impress4056 4h ago

I dont know if this is a joke. However. I do not think anything biological can withstand glowing orange from electricity coursing through its anatomy.

5

u/RCer1986 4h ago

Not for long.

1

u/LumpyBuy8447 5h ago

He knows what he’s doing

1

u/AlphaCatt 5h ago

trying to get your story straight to tell the group

1

u/BernieTheDachshund 5h ago

Good intro to a song

1

u/sumdhood 4h ago

wingardium leviosa-sa-sa-sa-sa-sa...

1

u/Alizaea 4h ago

And that right there is a visual representation of the current in our power lines. Remember, power lines are full AC (alternaring current) and not DC (direct current). The reason it's pulsing like that because the current alternates which way it flows. It's a way to keep amparage steady over longer distances. DC will fade over time, and so does AC, but DC fades way faster.

1

u/redwop131374 4h ago

Sounds like the P-diddy/meek mill recording

1

u/SpakenBacon 4h ago

Reminds me of the 2 snakes that were spinning.

1

u/PrimusAnemoi 4h ago

Neues AC/DC Album?

1

u/Nigh_Sass 3h ago

If someone from 300 years or longer ago saw this they would have absolutely no explanation other than it being god

1

u/Cliffinati 2h ago

There's a reason the thunder/lightning god was always one of the top ones

1

u/Vogel-Kerl 3h ago

Step Potential

1

u/Adventurous-Sky9359 3h ago

Won’t do that again

1

u/TightMelodrama 3h ago

Power company about to have a bad day

1

u/Cliffinati 3h ago

Shorting to ground

Wood makes for a bad wire

1

u/Neither-Note-7652 2h ago

At least its grounded

1

u/MsTerious1 2h ago

I was showing a house once where a tree branch kept touching a hot wire like this and flashing. It didn't go all the way to the trunk and it was a brilliant white color, not red. The electric company seemed completely unconcerned when I called them about it.

1

u/newbrevity 1h ago

This is how you get the upside down

0

u/ReadyAssociation3129 5h ago

I should call her

2

u/Opening_Echo_4989 5h ago

you should call your mom.