What is the purpose of grounding?

• A. Protects only equipment by stabilizing voltage but offers no personal protection.
• B. Lowers the impedance of fault paths and limits the current through a worker's body for a given time, protecting people and the system.
• C. Eliminates all electrical faults.
• D. Raises the voltage to improve fault detection.

Answer: (B)

Grounding is about giving fault currents a low-impedance path to earth so protective devices can sense and interrupt faults quickly. When a fault happens, the low impedance to ground lets a enough current flow to trigger the protective gear, but not so much that energy stays in a person or the equipment for too long. That quick clearing keeps the voltage on exposed parts near earth potential and reduces the amount of current a worker could experience, which protects both people and the system.

So this option captures the idea that a proper ground path lowers fault-path impedance and limits the current through a worker’s body for a given time, helping to prevent injury and equipment damage. Grounding doesn’t eliminate faults, it doesn’t raise voltage, and it protects more than just equipment.