Re: Question about how RCA wires & headphone mini-jacks "work".

"infamis" wrote ...
Is <called> ground or is it <connected to> ground?

Those are two different things. You must differentiate
between them to really understand what is being stated.

Note that you can say the the engine block in your car
is "grounded" to the chassis. But the chassis is never
actually connected to "earth/ground" unless you crash your car into a ditch, etc.

I understand "ground" in DC circuits to be synonomous with either the postive or negative battery terminal.

A circuit doesn't require a "ground", nor must it be called
that.

Take the case of a flashlight ("torch" in the UK). The most
simple form of an electrical circuit. A battery of cell(s)
connected through a switch to a light-bulb, and then the
current returning to the battery through the case. There is no "ground" here unless you wish to be pedantic. You could refer to the case as a "common" if you wish, but it is such a simple circuit, there is little point.

So assuming a metal case, turn on the flashlight/torch. Now touch the case to faucet in your kitchen. You have now connected the common/ground of the circuit to actual ground/earth. Did it change anything? Did the light get brighter? Dimmer? No, no, and no.

"Grounding" ("earthing" in the UK) one point in a circuit to actual ground/earth does nothing to the flow of current in the circuit, no matter whether AC or DC.

Try to resist confusing a simple common circuit connection
(such as the metal chassis of a piece of electronic equipment)
with the concept of connecting things to ground rods
pounded into the earth's crust.
.

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