Question #e170d

1 Answer
Ed Hitchcock
Feb 8, 2016

"Ground" means, quite literally the ground - or more specifically, its ability to neutralize any charge.

Explanation:

The Earth is a large object, and can absorb (or donate) an almost unlimited amount of electrical charge, so that if something needs to be neutralized, it can be connected to the ground.

But since the ground neutralizes a charge, it has a potential (voltage) of zero, so it can also act as a reference in a circuit - any point connected to ground will be at zero volts.

In some countries, they use the term "Earth" instead of ground.

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