Final answer:
When an electrical component becomes defective and breaks, it may be due to overloaded circuits, worn insulation, or issues in a series circuit. Grounding and circuit breakers are protective measures against shock and fire hazards. The trend towards repairability and sustainability in product design is growing, countering the practice of planned obsolescence.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an electrical component becomes defective and breaks, it is usually a result of an issue such as an overloaded circuit, worn insulation, or a broken series connection. For instance, in the case of a series circuit, if one component fails, all other components will be affected. A good example is a string of series-connected lamps: if one bulb burns out, the rest will not light up. This is also an important safety feature, as it prevents the circuit from working when there's a potential hazard.
A more severe issue can arise when the insulation on wires becomes worn, allowing live wires to contact an appliance's metal case, leading to potentially severe electric shocks. Proper earthing or grounding, along with devices like circuit breakers, can prevent damage and guard against shock hazards by tripping the circuit and forcing repairs to be made to the appliance.
However, it is important to recognize planned obsolescence, where manufacturers design products with a limited lifespan to encourage consumers to purchase newer models. Yet, as society becomes more environmentally conscious, there's a growing movement to focus on repairability and sustainability, valuing craftsmanship and the ability to upgrade or fix products instead of disposing of them.
Overloading electrical wires is a serious hazard where the term 'overloaded' refers to the condition when the current exceeds the wire's rated maximum current, measured by the equation P = I² Rw. To prevent overloading, devices such as fuses and circuit breakers are critical for safety.