If an energized conductor contacts an uninsulated truck boom, where does all the fault current flow?

When an energized conductor comes into contact with an uninsulated truck boom, the fault current seeks the path of least resistance to ground. The contact points between the earth and the truck create a conductive path for this fault current. As a result, the majority of the current will flow through the earth-to-truck contact points.

This occurs because the truck serves as a conductive structure that can facilitate the flow of electricity back to ground, which is typically at a lower potential. The flow of current through this pathway ensures that it does not pass through other parts of the system, such as the air, which would provide a much higher resistance route. Hence, the current efficiently travels through the solids in contact with the ground, resulting in A being the correct choice.

The other choices would not provide a similar effective pathway for the fault current. For instance, while it may be conceivable for current to flow into the air or through a worker, these pathways would involve significantly higher resistance and are typically less favorable routes for electrical current. The basket does not represent a direct path to ground, making it also an ineffective choice. Therefore, the correct understanding involves recognizing how electrical currents behave based on resistance, conductivity, and the physical paths available for flow.