Two switches in parallel on one side of a battery will cause a ________.

• A. open circuit
• B. load
• C. series connection
• D. short

Answer: (D)

A short circuit happens when there’s a direct, low-resistance path across the power source that bypasses the intended load. With two switches in parallel across a battery, closing either switch creates a near-direct connection from the positive to the negative terminal through the switch and wiring. That little-resistance path lets a large current flow without forcing it through any load, effectively shorting the battery. If the switches are both open, there’s no path at all (an open circuit). The idea of a series connection wouldn’t apply here because the switches are arranged in parallel, not end-to-end.