Final answer:
The statement about fuses being prone to improper sizing and overloading is true. Fuses are critical safety devices designed to melt and break a circuit connection when current exceeds safe levels, preventing overheating of wires. the correct option is (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that fuses are more prone to be improperly sized and overloaded is true. Fuses are designed to protect a circuit from currents that exceed safe limits by having a metal strip with a low melting point that melts when overheated by an excessive current, permanently breaking the circuit's connection to the voltage source. Circuit breakers serve a similar purpose but are restorable.
The power dissipated in supply wires, calculated as P = I²Rw (where I is the current and Rw is the resistance of the wires), can cause the wires to overheat if either value is too large. For instance, a worn appliance cord with higher resistance than intended can cause a hazardous dissipation of 200 W, while a wire designed to carry a few amps could overheat and dissipate 1000 W if it instead carries 100 A. Therefore, it is critical to properly size and install fuses to prevent such dangerous situations.