September 17, 2004
The tangled power lines due to Tropical Storm Ivan prevented the timely display of Physics Photo of the Week.
A Progress Energy worker is repairing the power lines near the pedestrian bridge.
Notice the 3 orange flexible cables dangling
between the high voltage cables. These wires provide conductive
short circuits to prevent shock hazard to the utility workers in case
the power lines were to become inadvertantly activated. If the
lines were to become activitated, the electrical current would take a
"short-cut" through the short circuits, thus blowing a fuse and
de-activiting the lines and preventing serious injury to the electrical
workers should they come in contact with the lines.
Our sincere appreciation is expressed for the utility workers who come out in bad weather to work under dangerous and hazardous conditions to restore electrical power in a timely manner enabling us to enjoy our basic services (refrigeration, water pumping, lights, computers, TV/radio, and video games). Many thanks to the electrical workers!
Our sincere appreciation is expressed for the utility workers who come out in bad weather to work under dangerous and hazardous conditions to restore electrical power in a timely manner enabling us to enjoy our basic services (refrigeration, water pumping, lights, computers, TV/radio, and video games). Many thanks to the electrical workers!