At the time of short-circuit, the current in the circuit :

At the time of short-circuit, the current in the circuit :

reduces substantially.
does not change.
increases heavily.
keeps on fluctuating.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2022
A short-circuit occurs when a low-resistance path is created between two points in an electric circuit that are normally at different potentials, often bypassing the intended load.
According to Ohm’s Law, the current (I) flowing through a circuit is directly proportional to the voltage (V) across it and inversely proportional to the resistance (R): I = V/R. During a short-circuit, the resistance of the path drops significantly, often close to zero. Assuming the voltage source remains relatively constant, a drastic decrease in resistance leads to a massive increase in the current flowing through the circuit.
This heavy increase in current during a short-circuit can cause overheating of wires and components due to the power dissipated (P = I²R), potentially leading to damage, fire, or explosion. Safety devices like fuses and circuit breakers are designed to detect this excessive current and interrupt the circuit, preventing damage.
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