Which of the following is not true about grounding? a. The ground pin in a three-prong plug must be removed. b. Grounding gives protection against the dangers of electric shock. c. A ground wire provides a low resistance path to Earth in the event of current leakage. d. Most electrical appliances have a ground wire that is connected to Earth through a water pipe.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is a. The ground pin in a three-prong plug must be removed.
Explanation:
Grounding is an essential safety measure used in electrical systems to protect people from electrical shock and to ensure the safe operation of electrical appliances. It is designed to redirect any stray electrical current into the Earth, reducing the risk of electrical fires and injuries caused by electrical faults.
The statement “a. The ground pin in a three-prong plug must be removed” is false because the ground pin is a crucial part of the safety design of the plug. Removing the ground pin would make the grounding system ineffective, exposing users to the risk of electric shock in case of a fault or leakage in the appliance. The ground pin is connected to the ground wire, which ensures that electrical current, in the event of an insulation failure or electrical malfunction, can flow safely to the Earth rather than through a person.
Grounding provides protection against electric shock by ensuring that any stray or excess electrical current does not remain within an appliance or device. The ground pin is part of a system that offers an additional safety path for electrical current, reducing the risk of a dangerous electric shock. In the case of leakage or failure in an appliance’s electrical system, the ground wire provides a low-resistance path to Earth, which safely dissipates the electrical energy and prevents the user from being harmed.
While statement “d. Most electrical appliances have a ground wire that is connected to Earth through a water pipe” might seem reasonable, it’s important to note that grounding through a water pipe may no longer be standard practice in many places due to changes in plumbing systems, which may not always provide a reliable connection to Earth. However, the concept remains valid: the goal is to ensure the electrical system is grounded to prevent any dangerous buildup of electricity.