A short circuit is a circuit containing a path of very lowresistance in parallel

Question

A short circuit is a circuit containing a path of very lowresistance in parallel with some other part of the circuit. Discussthe effect of a short circuit on the portion of the circuit itparallels. Use a lamp with a frayed line cord as an example. I do not understand what is meant by circuit parallels and theanswer approved on the site is very confusing and makes no senseplease explain. thank you A short circuit is a circuit containing a path of very lowresistance in parallel with some other part of the circuit. Discussthe effect of a short circuit on the portion of the circuit itparallels. Use a lamp with a frayed line cord as an example. I do not understand what is meant by circuit parallels and theanswer approved on the site is very confusing and makes no senseplease explain. thank you

Explanation / Answer

When you have something in parallel, the voltage is the same ineach branch, but the current differs. Here's a good site:http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/physics/phys03/bparcir/default.htm As you can see, the branch with the lower resistance has moreprotons [well electrons, really] flowing through it at a fasterrate, aka the current is greater because V=IR, and V is the samefor both but the resistance is changing so the current is inverselyproportional to the resistance. If you have a low resistance, for example with the lamp, then thecurrent will be greater. Now if you have a frayed line cord and thecurrent is high, then someone touching the cord can getelectrocuted!

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