Chapter 10, Problem 10.2CYU

Check Your Understanding Some strings of miniature holiday lights are made to short out when a bulb bums out. The device that causes the short is called a shunt, which allows current to flow around the open circuit. A “short” is like putting a piece of wire across the component. The bulbs are usually grouped in series of nine bulbs. If too many bulbs bum out, the shunts eventually open. What causes this?