What type of contact does galvanic corrosion involve?

Galvanic corrosion occurs when two different metals are in electrical contact with each other and are exposed to an electrolyte, such as water or moisture. This environment enables the flow of electric current between the metals, leading to corrosion of one of the metals, typically the more active one or the anode, while the other serves as the cathode and is protected.

The presence of an electrolyte is crucial because it facilitates the ionic movement necessary for the electrochemical reactions that define galvanic corrosion. Therefore, the scenario described points specifically to dissimilar metals interacting with the electrolyte, making it the correct interpretation of galvanic corrosion. The other types of contact described do not create the conditions required for this specific corrosion process, as they either involve similar metals, a lack of moisture, or conditions not conducive to galvanic action.