When current does not flow in a circuit, the circuit is called which type?

• A. Open
• B. Closed
• C. Infinite
• D. Short

Answer: (A)

Current needs a complete path to move through a circuit; when the path is broken, no current can flow. That situation is called an open circuit. An open circuit effectively has very high resistance because there is no closed loop for electrons to travel, which is why current stops. A closed circuit, by contrast, provides the continuous loop and allows current to flow, so that wouldn’t be the correct term. An option like infinite isn’t a standard circuit type, though open circuits are described as having extremely high resistance. A short would create a low-resistance path that still carries current, so it doesn’t describe a situation where current doesn’t flow.