The GFCI trips because you created a ground fault, and that's what they're supposed to do when they sense a ground fault. It doesn't matter whether the fault is on the hot or cold side, because the GFCI doesn't really distinguish between hot and cold. All it cares about is whether the current through the two conductors is exactly the same or not. When you short the neutral to ground at the receptacle, you've created another path for current to follow. As a result, there's less current traveling through the neutral conductor than through the hot conductor. Ground fault!
This probably makes sense as long as there's a load on the GFCI, so there's actually current traveling through it. Now I think what's puzzling you is you've seen it happen even if there's nothing plugged in. But when you connect the neutral and ground together, you've made a nice loop which will pick up induced current from all the current flowing in adjacent conductors. When you induce current in the neutral but not in the hot conductor, the GFCI says "Ground Fault!"
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Today's Featured Article - Show Coverage: Argyle and Mt. Pleasant Labor Day Weekend Shows - by Cindy Ladage. The last fling before summer fades into fall and we get busy in the fields are the annual Labor Day tractor shows. Beginning on September 5th and running through the 7th, the Argyle Antique Gas and Engine Show is held at the Argyle State Park. Located in West Central Illinois, the pine forest was the setting for the opening of the 22nd show. This year we decided to try to sell a few tractor parts, literature and wrenches to offset my husband's buying sprees. Saturday
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