What a Short Circuit Is. Electricity wants to flow along the path of least resistance, which is usually the shortest path.. The long path for the energy to flow back to ground is on the intended ...

That might be a short circuit. It's more serious and mainly happens when a live wire touches a neutral one, creating a sudden surge in current that trips the circuit breaker immediately.

Any short-circuit conditions which might possibly occur in practice can be produced in their testing room. The generators are driven by 5,500 volt motors connected with the public supply mains.