What is the result of a short circuit?

A short circuit occurs when there is an unintended connection between two points in an electrical circuit, creating a path of very low resistance. This condition allows an excessive amount of current to flow through the conductors, which can lead to overheating, damage to components, or even fires.

In a properly functioning circuit, current flows according to the designed resistive and inductive loads. However, when a short circuit is present, the resistance is dramatically lowered, resulting in a surge of current that can easily exceed the safe operating limits of the circuit elements. This is why excessive current is the defining result of a short circuit.

The other choices describe states that do not accurately reflect what happens during a short circuit. For instance, if there were no current flow, it wouldn’t be classified as a short circuit, and normal or fluctuating current would not apply, as both suggest stability or variability in current flow, which is not the case in a short circuit scenario.