In a polarized electric cord plug, how are the contact blades oriented?

In a polarized electric cord plug, the contact blades are oriented perpendicular to each other. This design is implemented to ensure that the plug can only be inserted into an outlet in one specific orientation. The purpose of this arrangement is to enhance safety by making sure that live (hot) and neutral wires are connected correctly, thereby reducing the risk of electric shock.

By having one blade wider than the other, the plug can only fit into the socket when it is aligned correctly. This prevents accidental reversal of the hot and neutral connections, which could lead to potentially hazardous situations such as equipment malfunction or electrical shock. This safety feature is particularly important in devices that require a defined polarity for safe operation. The other configurations like parallel orientation or being in line with the cord do not provide this important safety measure.