Why does an earth wire show the path of an electric current if it is not connected?

Analysis of Current Path When the Earth Wire is Not Connected

The function of the ground wire

The ground wire plays a crucial role in electrical systems, especially in preventing electric shock accidents and ensuring the safety of equipment. The main function of the ground wire is to provide a safe return path. When there is an electric leakage from an appliance, the current will flow back to the ground through the ground wire, thus preventing electric shock to humans. In addition, the thickness of the ground wire is also related to the rated current of the appliance. If the rated current of the appliance is large, then a thicker ground wire needs to be used to ensure its safety.

The impact of not connecting the ground wire

If the ground wire is not connected, it will cause current to flow through other materials for grounding, which can lead to many safety issues. Most importantly, when the electrical appliance has a leakage without a ground wire connection, the current cannot be released through the grounding line, posing a significant threat to the safety of the home. Additionally, an unconnected ground wire may cause the leakage protection device to trip because when the neutral line is directly connected to the ground wire, the current will take this path to form a short circuit.

Choice of Current Path

The reason why the return current flows through the neutral line instead of the ground line is to ensure the normal operation of the circuit. In a circuit, the return current is the current required for the operation of electronic devices or electrical appliances. The working principle of the circuit is based on the power supply, with current output from one end of the power supply, passing through the load after operation, and returning to the power supply through the other end. In this loop, the neutral line plays an important role in transmitting current from the load to the power supply. It is the "destination" of the current, that is, the return path of the current. In contrast, the neutral line is usually used to transmit current, not designed for human safety protection.

Conclusion

To sum up, when the ground wire is not connected, the current does not directly show its path, but it will seek other paths to ground, which may lead to safety hazards. Therefore, in order to ensure the safe operation of the circuit and personal safety, the ground wire must be correctly connected.