Word for the Day Archive

Short

In electronics a short is a condition where a circuit's "load" is of zero resistance. Normally a properly working electronic circuit requires voltage, current, and resistance (or impedance) to stay in balance. According to Ohms Law, if resistance goes to zero then, theoretically, current goes to infinity. A short is usually the result of some sort of failure or fault condition, and given that components in any circuit can only handle a finite amount of current it is a condition that can produce violent results depending on how much voltage is involved. This is where the phrase "short out" comes from. Fuses and circuit breakers are designed to protect components and wiring in the event a short occurs.