(a) Distinguish between the terms “overloading and short circuiting” as used in domestic circuits.
(b) Why are the coils of electric toasters made of an alloy rather than a pure metal?
(a) Short-circuiting is the term used for defining the situation in which, the neutral and live wires of an electric circuit come in direct contact.
When too many electrical appliances are connected to a single socket, the appliances draw much more current or power than the permissible limit from the main supply. This situation is termed as overloading.
(b) Resistivity of an alloy is much higher than its constituent metals. Moreover, alloys do not oxidise as easily as the constituent metals at high temperature. Because of these reasons, coils of electric testers are made of an alloy rather than a pure metal.