What describes a fault caused by equipment coming into contact with a live wire while grounded?

A ground fault refers specifically to a situation where electrical current unintentionally travels to the ground due to equipment coming into contact with a live wire while grounded. This type of fault represents a dangerous condition where the electrical current bypasses its normal path and finds an alternative route through the ground or conductive materials. Ground faults can pose severe risks of electric shock and fire hazards, which is why safety mechanisms such as Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are employed to detect these conditions and cut off the electrical supply quickly.

The other terms describe different electrical issues: a phase fault involves an issue in one of the phases of a three-phase system, a short circuit refers to a situation where current flows along an unintended path with little or no resistance, leading to excessive current flow, and a current overload occurs when the electrical current exceeds the rating of a circuit or device, which can also be dangerous but is not specifically related to grounding issues.