Final answer:A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is an essential safety device that prevents electric shock by detecting leakage currents and interrupting the circuit if leakage exceeds 5 mA. It uses electromagnetic induction to compare currents between live/hot and neutral wires, tripping when there's an imbalance.Explanation:A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a critical safety device commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms that operates on the principle of electromagnetic induction. Its main function is to protect people from electric shock by interrupting a circuit when it detects a difference in currents between the live/hot and neutral wires, typically as a result of a leakage current finding an unintentional path to ground. GFCIs are designed to trip when the leakage current exceeds 5 milliamperes (mA), which is considered the safe threshold to avoid harmful shock.GFCIs differ from standard circuit breakers as they are specifically designed to react to the loss of current to unintended paths. When a person becomes a part of the circuit, for example by touching an exposed wire, the GFCI can quickly cut off the current to reduce the risk of serious injury. Even if the circuit has an intact ground wire, the GFCI will activate to indicate that there's an issue that needs correcting, thus ensuring a higher level of safety....

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