The grounding prong on a three-prong plug is optional and may be removed.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Optional depending on country
• D. It is illegal to remove

Answer: (B)

Grounding provides a safe path for fault current and protects people and equipment. A three-prong plug includes hot, neutral, and ground, with the ground pin connecting to earth so that if a fault occurs, current has a low-impedance route to ground. This keeps metal parts at near earth potential and helps the protective device (fuse or breaker) trip, reducing the risk of shock. Because of this safety role, the grounding prong is not optional for a three-prong plug; the plug is designed with it and electrical codes require equipment grounding for devices with exposed metal parts. Removing the ground defeats the safety feature and can violate code. Some devices are designed to be double-insulated and use two-prong plugs, but for a three-prong plug, the ground is an integral safety element.