neutral and ground buses

[tygeroregon]

My question is, why is it that if the neutral and ground buses are connected by means of a jumper, why doesn't this create a ground fault or some other condition? Is it because the current is following the path of least resistance? something else?

[Ron]

Current flows back to its source via all paths.
The neutral conductor carries an overwhelming amount of the current back to the source compared to the ground, due to the neutral's low impedance path to the source.

[suemarkp]

To add to Ron's answer, the grounding wire doesn't go anywhere at the far end to carry current. It typically terminates on the metal chassis of appliances and equipment which is electrically floating. This metal doesn't normally carry current. If a fault to the chassis occurs, the grounding wire will give it a pathway to flow back to the source, and this can only occur if the ground and neutral are bonded together somewhere. This is done at the first main disconnect only.

[tygeroregon]

Thanks Mark and Ron! That helps explain at least one of those lingering questions I've had for some time, but was afraid to ask.