Final answer:
A device which serves to protect the circuit components and wiring in the event of a short circuit is a fuse. It is a short piece of wire between two contacts, designed to heat up and break at the rated current.
Step-by-step explanation:
A device which serves to protect the circuit components and wiring in the event of a short circuit is a fuse. A fuse is a short piece of wire between two contacts, designed to heat up and break at the rated current. When a current is running through a conductor, the kinetic energy of the charge carriers is converted into thermal energy in the conductor. The fuse is destroyed and must be replaced, but it protects the rest of the circuit from excessive currents.