What is the primary reason appliances are grounded?

Grounding appliances is primarily aimed at preventing electrical shock. When appliances are grounded, they provide a safe pathway for electrical current to flow back to the ground in the event of a malfunction or short circuit. This significantly reduces the risk of electrical shock to individuals who may come into contact with the appliance, as the electrical current is redirected away from the user.

Grounding serves as a safety measure by ensuring that any fault current does not accumulate within the appliance or create a hazardous situation for users. In highly conductive environments, such as those that may involve water, grounding is especially critical.

The other options, such as improving efficiency, increasing power consumption, or reducing heat production, do not fundamentally address the safety aspect that grounding provides. Grounding does not inherently make appliances more efficient or consume more power; it primarily serves as a protective measure to enhance user safety.