Final answer:
The false statement about power surges could refer to the misconception that all power strips provide surge protection, which is not always true. Isolation transformers offer protection and noise suppression. High-voltage wires on towers are not wrapped in insulating material but are suspended by insulators.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement about protecting against power surges that is false is not clearly provided among the options, but we can address general misinformation about power surges. A common misconception is that power strips always provide surge protection, which is false. Some power strips are merely extension cords without any surge protection capabilities. It's crucial to verify that a power strip includes a surge protection feature.
An isolation transformer is a device that isolates the primary and secondary windings to prevent a direct current path between them, which can protect against electric shock and suppress electrical noise in sensitive devices.
As for wood being an insulator, it's true that wood is an insulator, but lightning can indeed travel through a tree to reach Earth because the high energy and potential difference of lightning can overcome the resistance of the wood, causing it to act as a conductor in that extreme scenario.
The high-voltage wires seen on tall metal-frame towers are indeed held aloft by insulating connectors; however, they are generally not wrapped in insulating material. These wires are bare and are insulated from the ground by the air and by the insulating connectors attached to the towers, which is why the statement that they are wrapped in insulating material is false.
Circuit breakers and fuses help prevent shock hazards by interrupting the flow of potentially harmful electrical currents before they can cause injury or damage. They are designed to cut off the current when it exceeds a safe level, thus protecting against both fire and electrical shock.