What is a "short circuit"?

A "short circuit" is defined as an electrical fault caused by current flowing along an unintended path of low resistance. This situation occurs when a hot wire comes into direct contact with another conductive material, which can be another wire or a grounded surface. Because this path offers significantly less resistance than the intended circuit path, it allows an excessive amount of current to flow. This sudden surge can lead to overheating, equipment damage, or even fires, making it a hazardous condition that needs to be addressed immediately.

Understanding this definition is crucial since identifying a short circuit is essential for troubleshooting various electrical problems. The other options do not accurately describe a short circuit; flickering lights, for example, can occur for various reasons such as fluctuating voltage but do not inherently define a short circuit. Similarly, a temporary disconnection is rather a break in the circuit rather than an unintended low-resistance path, and circuits used for lighting do not inherently represent a short circuit either.