Science Concept: What Is a Ground Fault?

A ground fault occurs when electricity travels outside an intended path and tries to get to the ground by the shortest route. If you touch electricity while you are grounded (touching the ground or something resting on the ground, like a ladder), your body becomes electricity’s shortest route to ground. You could also become part of electricity’s path to ground if you touch water that touches electricity. In either case, you could be hurt or even killed.

Previous Science Concept:
Don’t Mix Water and Electricity

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