Yes, a large current flows through a short circuit.
Understanding Short Circuits
A short circuit is a low-resistance path created between two points in an electrical circuit that are supposed to be at different voltages. Based on the provided information:
- A short circuit is characterized by infinitely small resistance.
- There is no voltage difference between the two points it connects.
Why Does Current Increase?
The relationship between voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R) in a circuit is described by *Ohm's Law (V = I R)**.
- When a short circuit occurs, the resistance (R) in that part of the circuit becomes extremely low, effectively approaching zero according to the reference ("infinitely small resistance").
- According to Ohm's Law, if the resistance (R) is very small, and the voltage (V) across the rest of the circuit remains, the current (I = V / R) must become very large.
The reference explicitly states: "Hence by ohms law large current flows through it." It also adds, "at the time of the short circuit, the current in the circuit increases heavily."
Key Takeaways
- A short circuit is a path of very low resistance.
- Despite the lack of voltage difference across the short itself (as current flows through it), the low resistance creates a path for current from the voltage source powering the circuit.
- Due to the extremely low resistance, Ohm's Law dictates that a substantial amount of current flows through the short circuit.
- This leads to a heavy increase in the total current drawn from the power source, which is the defining characteristic and danger of a short circuit.
In summary: While there's no voltage drop across the theoretical 'infinitely small' resistance points within the short itself in a simplified model, the presence of a short circuit dramatically lowers the overall circuit resistance, allowing a dangerously high current to flow from the power source through the shorted path.
