a. the potential difference between the forward and rear feet when the bear crawlsb. the potential difference between the bear and the cablec. the coulomb force between the bear who obtains charges when passing by the cable and the cabled. none of them
a. The bear has completed a circuit between the cable and the ground. Electrical current takes the path of least resistance and will flow through him rather than through the air which has a low conductance. Since the bear has a resistance the electrical energy will do work (the energy it takes to move electrons from one potential to another) to over come his resistance and some of the energy will be transferred to heat. This is why people who are electrocuted will burn from the inside out.
e. the bear touched the stupid wire
a. when the wire touches the ground, it sets up an electric field that gets smaller as it gets further away from the wire. If the voltage is high enough, then the difference between the bear's front and hind legs might be enough to shock the bear. If you are ever in a situation where you are near a downed power line and you MUST get away, you should try hopping away on one foot, or at least keep both feet as close together as you can.
