In a short circuit, which statement best describes what happens to the feed conductors?

• A. The rest of the system is opened and the feed conductors are de-energized to prevent damage.
• B. The system automatically resets after a fault.
• C. Voltage rises temporarily but current remains unchanged.
• D. The electricity follows the path of least resistance and the feed conductors may overheat.

Answer: (D)

During a short circuit, a low-resistance path appears, so the current rushes along the easiest route and the feed conductors carry a much higher fault current. That surge can cause those conductors to overheat if not quickly interrupted by protective devices. This captures the immediate behavior of the feed conductors most accurately. The other statements don’t fit because faults don’t automatically reset, current doesn’t stay unchanged while voltage rises, and feed conductors aren’t simply de-energized on their own—the protection system governs interruption to prevent damage.