<P> In an improper installation, the overcurrent from a short circuit may cause ohmic heating of the circuit parts with poor conductivity (faulty joints in wiring, faulty contacts in power sockets, or even the site of the short circuit itself). Such overheating is a common cause of fires . An electric arc, if it forms during the short circuit, produces high amount of heat and can cause ignition of combustible substances as well . </P> <P> In industrial and utility distribution systems, dynamic forces generated by high short - circuit currents cause conductors to spread apart . Busbars, cables, and apparatus can be damaged by the forces generated in a short circuit . </P> <P> In electronics, the ideal model (infinite gain) of an operational amplifier is said to produce a virtual short circuit between its input terminals because no matter what the output voltage is, the difference of potential between its input terminals is zero . If one of the input terminals is connected to the ground, then the other one is said to provide a virtual ground because its potential is (ideally) identical to that of the ground . An ideal operational amplifier also has infinite input impedance, so unlike a real short circuit, no current flows between the terminals of the virtual short . </P>

An unplanned open may cause higher than normal current flow