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86 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2026 F E AT U R E A RT I C L E If you've studied electrical or computer engineering, or have just read an electron- ics schematic, circuit diagram, or other applica- tion notes, you've likely seen the term "Ground," often abbreviated GND. This is used in school and during the teaching of electronics circuit analysis to indicate a reference or zero-voltage node for circuit analysis. It is also taught that there is no current in GND since the voltage is zero. These are assumptions made for the purpose of simplifying the introduction to circuit analysis. Therefore, GND has taken on a legendary or mythical status as the place where noise disap- pears into the ether: no current flows, and no volt- age exists. These are all erroneous statements. Current must always flow in a loop, and since all traces on a PCB act as transmission lines, it follows that GND is the path used to return the current generated by the source and sent to the load, then back to the source. It also follows that the polarity of the current flowing in the GND path is approxi- mately equal to the magnitude and opposite to the Don't Call It Ground; Call It Return BY K R I ST I N M OY E R , G LO BA L E L ECT RO N I C S AS S O C I AT I O N