The type of fault in which the unintentional pathway of the straying current flows directly to earth (to ground) can best be described as which of the following? 
A. Arch Fault
B. Ground Fault
C. Short Circuit
D. None of the above
Solution:
B. Ground Fault.
While any abnormal flow of electricity is a type of fault, a ground fault is typically defined as a fault in which the unintended path of the straying current flows directly to the earth (the ground). Since the question describes the flow of current that has bypassed the circuit wiring, the resulting fault could also be technically defined as a type of short circuit. Yet short circuit would not be considered the BPA or best possible answer choice. Why?
Because in the field a ground fault is more precisely defined as a circumstance in which a hot wire has made contact with either the grounding wire or the grounded portion of the system (i.e. a metal box). That’s why ground fault would be considered the BPA or best possible answer choice.
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