Figure 2:
Open circuit diagram
Short and Open Circuits
Short Circuit
Short
circuit occurs when two points in an electric circuit are connected together by
a thick metallic wire as shown in figure 1 above. Whenever a ‘short’ occurs in
a circuit, the short has practically zero resistance. Since the resistance is
practically zero, it gives rise to the emergence of two important facts;
circuit occurs when two points in an electric circuit are connected together by
a thick metallic wire as shown in figure 1 above. Whenever a ‘short’ occurs in
a circuit, the short has practically zero resistance. Since the resistance is
practically zero, it gives rise to the emergence of two important facts;
1) The voltage across the ‘short’ is
zero because V = IR = I X 0 =0.
zero because V = IR = I X 0 =0.
2) The short circuit current which is
the current flowing through the short is very large (theoretically infinity).
the current flowing through the short is very large (theoretically infinity).
Open Circuit
Open
circuit occurs between two points in an electric circuit when there is no
direct connection between them as shown in figure 2 above. The ‘open’ circuit
represents a break in continuity in the circuit. This break in continuity gives
rise to the emergence of two important facts;
circuit occurs between two points in an electric circuit when there is no
direct connection between them as shown in figure 2 above. The ‘open’ circuit
represents a break in continuity in the circuit. This break in continuity gives
rise to the emergence of two important facts;
1) There occurs an infinite resistance
between the two points.
between the two points.
2) There is no flow of current between
the two points.
the two points.
