[ELI5] What does it mean to be “grounded” against electricity, and why does it keep you safe?
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Grounding is used to protect things from being damaged by electricity. This is done by giving the electricity a safe path to follow to Ground. We call it ground because the sticking a metal stick in the ground is a great place for the electricity to go.
Ground straps and ground wires are two types of these safe paths.
1. Ground wires protect you from electricity in a machine.
2. Ground straps protect machines, from (static) electricity in you.
It is *not* as simple as Grounded=Safe. Using the wrong type of ground could be deadly.
Grounding your self when working with electricity would be bad.
You are creating a path for electricity to flow through, but it is not a safe path it is your body.
In fact, many electricians wear insulated boots when working, these boot help prevent your feet from making a path to the ground from electricity.
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