Earthing, also known as grounding, is a technique that involves connecting specific parts of an electric power system with the ground, typically the Earths conductive surface, for safety and functional purposes. There are three main purposes for earthing:
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System earthing: This serves a purpose of electrical safety throughout the system that is not caused by an electrical fault. Its main purpose is to prevent static buildup and to protect against power surges caused by nearby lightning strikes or switching. Static buildup, as induced by friction, for example, such as when wind blows onto a radio mast, is dissipated to the Earth.
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Equipment earthing: This serves a purpose of electrical safety in an electrical fault. Its main purpose is to prevent equipment damage and the risk of an electric shock. This type of earthing is not an earth connection, technically speaking.
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Functional earthing: This serves a purpose other than electrical safety. Example purposes include electromagnetic interference (EMI) filtering in an EMI filter, and the use of the Earth as a return path in a single-wire earth return distribution system.
On the other hand, Earthing or grounding is a therapeutic technique that involves doing activities that “ground” or electrically reconnect you to the earth. When you touch the ground with your bare feet or body, the electrons flow into you, and this is called being “grounded” . Research has shown that connecting to the Earth’s natural energy, by walking barefoot on grass, sand, dirt, or rock, can diminish chronic pain, fatigue, and other ailments that plague many people today. However, grounding is currently an under-researched topic, and there are very few scientific studies on the benefits.
