Final answer:
A power surge happens when the electrical power spikes significantly above the standard voltage, which can lead to damaging heat and electrical hazards such as short circuits.
Step-by-step explanation:
A power surge occurs when the incoming electrical power increases significantly above the normal 120 volts. The correct answer is (c) power surge. This phenomenon happens when there's a sudden increase in voltage that substantially exceeds the standard line voltage, which can be harmful to electrical appliances and devices.
During a power surge, the voltage can reach high levels such as 335 MV, which is way too high, well above the breakdown voltage of air over reasonable distances. Such extreme voltages can lead to electrical hazards like the formation of a short circuit, which is a connection with a very low resistance that leads to a high power dissipation, potentially melting or igniting materials due to the rapid increase in temperature.