"Richard Crowley" wrote in message
...
"mc" wrote...
The resistance of the earth isn't zero. Suppose you have a 12,000-volt
earth-return line that is 12,000 feet long (about 2 nautical miles).
Then you have a voltage gradient of 1 volt per foot, which is not going
to be hazardous unless somehow (using fences, guy wires or something) you
got yourself connected to two points maybe 100 feet apart.

If your had your 12KV all dissipated through the earth, you
would have nothing coming out at the other end and there
would be no point in even constructing the power line, now
would there? Hint: Ideally there is ZERO voltage potential
between the two ends of any conductor, whether it is a piece
of copper, or a segment of the earth's crust. Anything above
zero represents loss. Loss of current, voltage, power, and $$$

Good point; I was thinking of the maximum possible.