Grounding Myths Quiz

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Greg,

I think you are probably right as sometimes he does that on some questions, I just posted it because I found it interesting and to be honest with you when they start on the TVSS's I don't follow much since I don't deal in them much.


in # 8 Greg I think mike was talking about TRUE ground....and the elevation of ground....not sure but I think he was speaking of that.

on # 9 I am not sure and BTW mike welcomes debate on these things as the one thing I like about Mike is he will change his view honestly if presented with facts to the otherwise.

I think in # 9 in your example, we are talking about fault voltage which the EQ. Plane should help give a stable potential and solve the problem which is the reason for the EQ.Plane in this environment.

Cattle are very " wizzied" by stray voltage usually coming from the issues with the "grounded" conductor but if the installation is followed in Art 547 should not be a problem...hopefully but I am not sure it reduces stray voltage versus giving a even potential to all metal parts and earth in itself...the stray voltage still might be present.

Hey......man I love this stuff...not your everyday electrical jargon mind you. Let me upload the articles for you.

[Greg Fretwell]

The questions were written so badly that it is hard to decide exactly what he is going for but the reality is the purpose of the grounding electrode system is to provide a local reference and reduce the chance that the dirt, concrete floor etc is at a different potential than the EGC. The ground also provides a path to bleed off common mode transients. (things that affect all conductors)

[Pierre Belarge]

1. Current always takes the path of least resistance. TRUE

The wording needs some massaging to become FALSE.

Current will always take the path of least resistance... and every other path available.

To make the statement false:
Current takes only the path of least resistance.

When it comes to wording a question or code requirements for that matter, it is not as easy as one would like to think it is to word them correctly.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Pierre,
Not a badly worded question.....it is not a true statement if their are parr. paths...please look at the inpedance example I posted.

When doing questions you MUST read the question at face value, I am not defending Mr. Holt but if you read the question at face value it is truly a false statement making his question false.

[pdickerson]

Paul, Pierre is right. Go back and read the question at face value. "Electricity always takes the path of least resistance."
In every case where current flows through multiple paths at different resistances, it is in fact always flowing through the path of least resistance. It flows through the other paths also, but that does not make the answer false.

[waksell]

The way the question is worded I think the answer is true.

If the question said "Electricity always takes the path of least resistance only", then the answer would be false.

Anyone can throw in additional information after the fact to change the outcome.

Such as;
True or False. An automobile will drive perfectly normal with one flat tire. Answer is false.
Throw in; Not if the flat tire is the one in the trunk. Changes the context of the question after the fact.

I think Mr. Holt may have learned how to word questions from the drivers license test.

I don't think trick questions are the best way to teach or learn.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Wesley,

I disagree on trick questions.

The point of a question is to make you think, I have been spending ALOT of time over the past 3 days as you all can tell by my presence online, working on my seminar for Atlanta and the one for my state itself on grounding and bonding and have come to understand MANY things even better than I did before.

Knowledge is an AMAZING thing, it makes me JUMP up in the morning to learn more and more and more. I am 37 and I simply CAN'T wait until I am 47 and what i may know and learn.

So the question is : Electricity always takes the path of least resistance.

We know this is false, while it does TAKE the path of least resistance we also know that in objectionable current situations it takes all available paths in order to obtain it's goal and get back to the source ( not the earth as many believe ) of its origination.

You have to take questions at FACE value and not disect them for what they are worth. It is a practice of MAKING the test taking individual STOP and read the question again....slowly and thing of all possible directions but then to focus on WHAT the question asks.

IN my example with the resistors you see ALL paths receive electrity and that is the understanding of the question. Just because YOU may become in contact with a metal pipe at 1000 OHMS of resistance and the metal surface is in contact with the earth lets say and has 25 OHMS of resistance...don't think it will all go into the earth trying to make its way BACK to the source....you will be TOAST and is shows that while electricity will take the path of least resistance so to speak...it will ALSO take YOUR path as well and it only takes MILLI-AMPS to end your life.

[waksell]

I agree that the point of a question is to make you think. But with that scenario, there can never be a correct answer to any question.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Sure there can be....to the question only. Is it NOT false that " Electricity always takes the path of least resistance.

Key word here is ALWAYS......in that statement if you think always then you think ONLY that path...making the statement false...it takes all parrallel paths making the statement...YES incomplete but truly FALSE.

I think that is what MIKE is going for in these little "MAKE YOu THINK" questions and guess what.....it is MAKING us think and thats the sign of a good quiz.....not one that is black and white....we like em GRAY !

[waksell]

Paul, I want you to understand that I am in no way disagreeing with you on the subject of electricity. You obviously are more knowledgeable than I am in that field. I'm just trying to pick you brain so that I will understand better.

Where we seem to disagree is language;
" Electricity always takes the path of least resistance" True.
Can you tell me where there would ever be a situation where electricity did not take the path of least resistance.

[Greg Fretwell]

I am sure Mike was only trying to start a conversation with these questions. It is certainly not written like a question you would be graded on.

[waksell]

Greg, that makes sense. I can see how this would bring good discussion in a classroom or similar situation. Makes for better development of the thought process.

[Paul W. Abernathy]

hmmmm...wesley or greg...why would you all thing I am argueing or debating anything. I understand what you are saying Wesley , all I am trying to do is chat about it and so on...nothing more fella...I was not snappin at ya friend just using the post to educate and teach as well as try to answer the questions...

It does always take THAT path...but I think what he is trying to pull out of the question is yes it always takes that path but it is important to know it is not the ONLY path it takes.

I think his questions are designed to BRING up conversations like this and it is a good to have them...

[pdickerson]

Originally Posted by pabernathy

It does always take THAT path...

Excellent, than we all agree, electricity DOES always take the path of least resistance.

[Greg Fretwell]

Pierre's comment refers to the fact that electricity also takes the path of most resistance if that path exists.