Question

Why isn’t a short circuit a shock hazard?

Short answer

When current passes along an unanticipated path with very little electrical resistance, a short circuit occurs. Shock hazard refers to the risk of current running through a person. If the short circuit's unintended path is a living organism, we can only conclude that the short circuit is a shock hazard.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Short circuit

A short circuit is an electrical circuit that permits current to flow unintentionally through a path with no or very low electrical impedance. As a result, the circuit receives an excessive amount of current.

Explaining Why a short circuit is not a shock hazard

A short circuit can occur when a current wire hits a neutral wire due to inadequate insulation. When this happens, the resistance of the new current path is so low that a substantial amount of current flows through it.

As the current rises, it will likely cause overheating, smoke, flames, or, hopefully, a tripped circuit breaker. A shock can occur if a human comes into contact with the circuit; however, a short circuit does not always result in a shock.