What does ‘short circuiting’ mean?

Short circuiting refers to an unintentional path that allows current to flow along an unintended route with very low resistance. This typically occurs when there is a fault in the electrical system, such as damaged insulation or a direct connection between a live conductor and ground or neutral, bypassing the normal load.

In such situations, the low resistance path enables a significant amount of current to flow rapidly, which can lead to overheating, potential fire hazards, and damage to electrical components. Understanding short circuits is crucial for electrical safety and design because they represent a failure condition that can have serious consequences if not properly managed.

The other choices describe different scenarios not related to short circuits. For instance, an intentional path for current flow may refer to designed conductors in a circuit, while increasing electrical flow and measuring voltage pertain to circuit behaviors and analysis rather than the definition of short circuiting.