What is the primary function of bonding in electrical systems?

The primary function of bonding in electrical systems is to ensure that all conductive parts are at the same electrical potential. This is crucial for safety because it helps to reduce the risk of electric shock. When different conductive parts are at different potentials, it can create a dangerous situation if someone touches two parts at once, causing current to flow through their body. By bonding these parts together, any potential difference is minimized, allowing a safe path for fault current to flow back to the ground, ultimately enabling protective devices like circuit breakers to detect faults and trip appropriately.

Understanding bonding also underscores how it functions in conjunction with grounding. While grounding provides a low-resistance path to earth to dissipate electrical faults, bonding makes sure that any conductive parts that could be touched by an individual are at the same potential, thereby preventing shock hazards.