The circuit diagram illustrates a simple ground loop.

Two
circuits share a common path to ground. This path has a
resistance of . Ideally, the ground conductor would have
no resistance ( ), yielding no voltage drop across it, ,
keeping the connection point between the circuits at a
constant ground potential. In that case, the output of
circuit 2 is simply .
However, if , it and together form a voltage divider. As
a result, if a current, , is flowing through from circuit 1,
a voltage drop , across , occurs and the ground
connection of both circuits is no longer at the actual
ground potential. This voltage across the ground
conductor is applied to circuit 2 and added to the output:

Thus the two circuits are no longer isolated from each

other and circuit 1 can introduce interference into the
output of circuit 2. If circuit 2 is an audio system and
circuit 1 has large AC currents flowing in it, the
interference may be heard as a 50 or 60 Hz hum in the
speakers. Also, both circuits have voltage on their
grounded parts that may be exposed to contact, possibly
presenting a shock hazard. This is true even if circuit 2 is
turned off.
Although they occur most often in the ground conductors
of electrical equipment, ground loops can occur wherever
two or more circuits share a common current path, if
enough current is flowing to cause a significant voltage
drop along the conductor.