What must exist for there to be a possibility of electrical shock?

For electrical shock to occur, there must be a difference in electrical potential, commonly referred to as voltage difference, between two points. This potential difference creates the conditions necessary for current to flow through a conductor, including the human body, if someone comes into contact with the energized source.

When there is a sufficient difference in potential, it means that one point has a higher voltage than another point. If a person touches these two points simultaneously, the current can pass through their body, leading to electrical shock. This phenomenon is not solely dependent on high voltage; even lower voltages can cause shock under specific conditions if there is adequate potential difference. Grounding and short circuits do play roles in electrical safety and circuit functionality, but they do not directly establish the requirement for the occurrence of electrical shock like the difference in potential does.