Final answer:
Circuit breakers are primarily grouped according to their given current ranges. They are designed to protect against excess current by interrupting the flow of electricity, and can be reset after tripping unlike fuses.
GFCIs are specialized breakers that react to protect against electric shocks in high-risk areas.
Therefore, the correct answer is: option b). given current ranges
Step-by-step explanation:
A circuit breaker is a type of electrical protection device that is used to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by excess current from an overload or short circuit.
Its basic function is to interrupt current flow after a fault is detected. Unlike fuses, which must be replaced once blown, circuit breakers can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation.
Circuit breakers are designed to protect electrical systems from damage caused by overload or short circuit by interrupting the flow of electricity when unsafe levels of current are detected.
Besides current ranges, other key considerations in the design of circuit breakers include the ability to handle household voltages and currents, the challenges of breaking high-voltage circuits, especially concerning the potential for arcing and the use of insulating gas to extinguish arcs in large power-distribution systems.
GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), another safety device, are used in places where the risk of electric shock is higher, such as bathrooms and kitchens. GFCIs rapidly respond to changes in current that may indicate a ground fault, and they work by detecting differences in the current between the hot and neutral conductor of an electrical circuit.
Additionally, circuit breakers and fuses interrupt excessive currents to prevent thermal hazards and are part of a comprehensive system to protect against both thermal and shock hazards.