Explain the purpose of each wire (live, neutral, earth) in a UK three-pin plug.

Each wire in a UK three-pin plug serves a specific safety and functional purpose - Live (brown) carries the current in, Neutral (blue) completes the circuit, and Earth (green/yellow) provides emergency protection.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Live wire (brown) - Carries 230V alternating current from the mains supply to the appliance
Neutral wire (blue) - Provides the return path for current, completing the circuit
Earth wire (green/yellow) - Connects to the metal casing; diverts dangerous current to ground if a fault occurs
Wire colour coding is standardised for safety: Brown-Live, Blue-Neutral, Green/Yellow-Earth

Key Mistake to Avoid: Students often confuse the neutral and earth wires' functions - remember neutral carries current back, while earth only conducts during faults.



Quick Tip: Remember "BLuE" - Brown Live, Blue neutral, Earth green/yellow (the odd one out) to recall wire colours in exams.