All electric currents create heat but an efficient circuit will not get as hot as one that is not efficient. If the circuit gets too hot it could short circuit and the electric supply will be shut off at the fuse board, or it could get so hot that it actually causes a fire, which can lead to huge losses of both property and life.
• Short circuit
When a short circuit occurs, there is an abnormal low resistance between two nodes in the circuit, which will mean that there will be an excess of current. This can cause damage to the circuit, and also lead to fire and explosion.
• Examples of short circuits
The easiest way to demonstrate a short circuit (but this is really not recommended because it can be very dangerous and result in very serious injuries) is to connect the negative and positive terminals of a battery with wire, which is a low resistance conductor of electricity. Because there is low resistance in the connection, there will be a high current, which means that the cell will give a large quantity of electricity in a short time span.
This will result in a fast build up of heat and can potentially lead to an explosion, or the discharge of hydrogen and electrolyte, which can lead to burns, blindness and death.
A similar effect to a short circuit can occur when an electric motor keeps stalling. If the impeller is jammed, perhaps by debris, it will behave in the same way as a short circuit.
• Short circuit
When a short circuit occurs, there is an abnormal low resistance between two nodes in the circuit, which will mean that there will be an excess of current. This can cause damage to the circuit, and also lead to fire and explosion.
• Examples of short circuits
The easiest way to demonstrate a short circuit (but this is really not recommended because it can be very dangerous and result in very serious injuries) is to connect the negative and positive terminals of a battery with wire, which is a low resistance conductor of electricity. Because there is low resistance in the connection, there will be a high current, which means that the cell will give a large quantity of electricity in a short time span.
This will result in a fast build up of heat and can potentially lead to an explosion, or the discharge of hydrogen and electrolyte, which can lead to burns, blindness and death.
A similar effect to a short circuit can occur when an electric motor keeps stalling. If the impeller is jammed, perhaps by debris, it will behave in the same way as a short circuit.