Electricity

• Three core cable


  Cable used to connect appliances to mains electricity, has three wires
• Wires in three core cable

  • Live wire
  • Neutral wire
  • Earth wire
• Live wire


  Carries potential difference of around 230 volts, connected to fuse in plug
• Neutral wire


  Completes the circuit with live wire, has potential difference of around 0 volts
• Earth wire


  Safety wire, connected to metal case of appliance and to ground
• Function of earth wire

  If live wire comes loose and touches metal case, current flows to earth, fuse melts and shuts off current, preventing electric shock
• Mains electricity in UK is alternating current (AC) with frequency of 50 Hertz and potential difference of around 230 volts
• Live wire can be extremely dangerous and fatal if touched, even with switch open as part of live wire still has 230 volts