What occurs during a ground fault?

During a ground fault, one of the phases becomes grounded, which creates an unintended path for electricity to flow. This can happen when the conductive part of the electrical system comes into contact with the ground or a grounded object. The situation poses significant safety hazards, as it may lead to electric shock or equipment damage.

In the event of a ground fault, protective devices such as ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are designed to detect the fault quickly and interrupt the current flow by tripping the circuit. This response aims to protect individuals and equipment from the dangers associated with unintentional grounding.

The other potential options describe scenarios that may not accurately represent the specific event of a ground fault. For example, while it is possible for all phases to trip, this would typically occur in the context of a more complex fault condition, not specifically during a ground fault. Additionally, overheating of the neutral wire and voltage surges can occur in different types of faults, but they are not direct results of what is happening in a ground fault situation.