What is the primary purpose of grounding a system?

Grounding a system primarily serves to limit the rise in potential on the neutral and related structures. This is crucial for ensuring safety in electrical systems, as it helps to prevent dangerous voltage increases that can occur due to various factors, such as lightning strikes or equipment faults. By effectively grounding the system, any excess electricity is directed safely into the ground, minimizing the risk of electric shock or damage to equipment and preventing hazardous conditions.

The other options, while they may relate to some aspects of electrical systems, do not accurately capture the main purpose of grounding. Enhancing performance and increasing circuit efficiency are secondary benefits that may arise from a well-grounded system, but they do not define its primary purpose. Providing backup power is entirely unrelated to the function of grounding, which is focused on safety and stability within the electrical infrastructure.