Question

Explain short circuit with some examples

Answer 1

A short circuit is an unwanted or unintentional path that current can take which bypasses the routes you actually want it to take.

A short circuit is simply a low resistance connection between the two conductors supplying electrical power to any circuit. This results in excessive current flow in the power source through the 'short,' and may even cause the power source to be destroyed

Some examples:

• the power cord was old and the insulation brittle and worn through. Eventually the power wires contacted each other and shorted out (usually this results in a spark at the short and blown fuse or circuit breaker elsewhere)
• The on-off switch was not working so the engineer temporarily bypasses it with a shorting wire (a deliberate short circuit) to leave the light on all the time.