Meters and troubleshootingQuestion 650 of 1506

A series circuit has three resistors. One resistor fails shorted. What happens to the total resistance and the circuit current?

  1. The total resistance rises, and the current falls.
  2. The total resistance falls, and the current rises.
  3. The total resistance falls, and the current stays the same.
  4. The total resistance and current do not change.
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Correct answer: The total resistance falls, and the current rises.

A shorted resistor acts like a jumper wire. With the same supply voltage, less resistance means more current.

Source: Lessons in Electric Circuits I: DC (Kuphaldt), 5.7: Component Failure Analysis

Practice meters and troubleshooting

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026