The "neutral" conductor in an AC power system is always made electrically common with the earth, while the non-grounded conductor in an AC power system is called the "hot" conductor:


Follow-up question #1: in a power circuit such as this, there is typically a single fuse or circuit breaker for overcurrent protection. Identify the best location to place this fuse or circuit breaker in the circuit.
Follow-up question #2: explain how to use a multimeter to identify the "hot" and "neutral" conductors of a power system such as this.

Notes:
Ask your students what safety issues surround the "hot" and "neutral" conductors, respectively. What do the names imply about relative hazard, and why is this? Ask them to explain how these safety considerations impact the placement of the overcurrent protection device.

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An ungrounded power system is unpredictable from the perspective of safety.

Notes:
Be sure to discuss with your students the benefits and drawbacks of power system grounding. There are some instances where systems are left intentionally ungrounded because the safety benefit of grounding them is negligible (high-voltage power distribution systems may often be ungrounded for this reason). In low-voltage (120 volt) domestic power systems, though, grounding is required by law.

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No.
Follow-up question: what do the double-chevron symbols represent in a schematic diagram?

Notes:
Even though no shock hazard presently exists in the circuit, ask your students to identify a condition where the ßhorted" wire inside the appliance would pose a shock hazard. What would have to change in order for this wiring fault to pose a hazard?

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Yes, if the power switch is turned ön".

Notes:
Aside from removing the ßhort" connecting the power conductor to the metal case of the appliance, what else could be done to eliminate the shock hazard in this scenario? Discuss this with your students.

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The ground wire connection makes the metal case of the appliance electrically common with earth ground.

Notes:
Ask your students to explain why the case's electrical commonality with earth makes it safer to touch. What do they know about ëlectrically common points" in a circuit, and voltage between those points?

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A "polarized" power plug is one that is designed to plug into a power receptacle one way only (i.e. it cannot be reversed). Usually this is accomplished by the use of one "prong" on the plug being wider than the other, with matching-width holes in the receptacle.

Notes:
Discuss with your students the relative merits of polarized plugs versus three-wire plugs that provide a hard ground connection with the frame of the electrical device. Which plug type provides a greater level of safety? Why?

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Using the neutral conductor as a safety ground is a bad idea, in the event the neutral wire were to ever fail öpen" between the receptacle and the system ground point.

Notes:
Discuss this particular failure scenario with your students, drawing a schematic diagram if necessary. Not only does this illustrate the importance of having a separate ground conductor, but it also shows how the neutral wire can potentially be unsafe to touch!

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Grounded = White or natural grey.
Grounding = Bare (uninsulated), green, or green with a yellow stripe.
Ungrounded = Colors other than white, natural grey, or green.

Notes:
It is important to note that even though these color codes have been standardized for many years, it is unwise to rely on color coding as an indication of hazard. In other words, just because a wire has green insulation does not mean it is necessarily safe to touch! There will always be mistakes made from time to time in wire installation, and in older systems where someone might have re-connected wires in incorrect ways. When in doubt, always use a voltmeter to check for the presence of hazardous voltage!

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I'll give you this hint: no more than two voltage measurements are necessary to identify all three jacks in a properly connected three-prong power receptacle!

Notes:
Knowing how to check for proper wiring in power receptacles is a very practical skill for homeowners. Sure, there are simple neon-lamp testers available that you can simply plug in to a receptacle to test it, but using a voltmeter requires knowledge.
Incidentally, this test is very easy to perform during class discussion time, as multiple power receptacles should be available in any classroom. Be sure to review certain basic safety rules (use one hand only, etc.) when performing this test!

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"GFCI" devices work on the principle of differential current measurement as a means to sense ground faults.

Notes:
Be sure to discuss with your students what "differential current measurement" means, rather than assume they all researched the answer in greater detail than what is provided here. This really is a clever way to detect the presence of a ground fault!
You should point out to your students that GFCI power receptacles are commonly installed in "wet" areas of residences, such as in the bathroom and outside, where the hazard of ground-fault electric shock is maximized by the presence of water.
This question also provides an opportunity to discuss why the presence of water at a point of bodily contact increases the severity of electric shock.

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Any resistance value between 0 W to 23 kW

Notes:
This question requires the use of Ohm's Law, but to calculate a range of resistance values and not just a singular value. All students should be able to obtain the figure of 23 kW, but some may be confused as to whether this is a minimum or a maximum resistance value needed to trip the GFCI. Discuss this with your students, asking them to explain how we know 23 kW is a maximum figure and not a minimum figure.

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While this advertisement was amusing, it was not very informative. No, the term "double-insulated" does not refer to thermal insulation, but rather electrical insulation.

Notes:
One fact of interest here is that double-insulated tools usually do not have three-prong power plugs. In other words, they do not need a "ground" wire to ensure operator safety.

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