Curiosity just got the best of me. To be electrocuted one should make a complete circuit, right? What if you just touch the live wire and nothing else, you're not standing on anything, no ground. you're in mid air. Any thoughts? Thanks
Basically correct. Power line technicians can work on live power lines via helicopter in this manner. And that's how all the birds sit on power lines. Although not touching a wire is not enough. At higher voltages, you'll get arcing if you just get close enough to another source. So a small bird can sit on a power line with no problem. But if it's not designed well, a larger bird with extended wings can get electrocuted even without touching the lines at all.
yes and it can be really bad
No. Your comment about a complete circuit is correct. Under the conditions you state you will not be electrocuted. One exception would be if the line frequency and voltage was high and you had substantial capacitance to ground you might be electrocuted.
