What is an open circuit?

• A. A break that stops current flow
• B. A short circuit
• C. A closed loop
• D. A normal state of charge

Answer: (A)

An open circuit is when the conducting path is not complete, such as a break or an open switch, so electrons can’t travel from the source through the circuit to the load. Because the loop isn’t closed, the current is effectively zero even though the source may still have voltage across the gap. This differs from a short circuit, where a low-resistance path allows a large amount of current to flow through a completed loop. It also isn’t a closed loop, which would permit current to flow normally. And it isn’t about the battery’s state of charge; that describes the energy stored, not whether the circuit is open.