Which malfunction type generally causes an increase in current within any circuit?

A short circuit occurs when there is a low resistance connection between two conductors that are supposed to be separated. This bypasses the load in the circuit, allowing an excessive amount of current to flow, typically much higher than the normal operating conditions would permit.

In a short circuit situation, the current increases dramatically because the electrical path effectively becomes a direct connection, leading to considerably reduced resistance. This results in a surge in current that can lead to overheating, potential component failure, and circuit damage if protective measures, such as fuses or circuit breakers, do not intervene.

On the other hand, an open circuit results in no current flow as the circuit is incomplete. A ground fault may allow current to flow to the ground, but it does not inherently increase the overall current in the circuit. An overload can increase current as well, but not in the same abrupt manner as a short circuit, since it typically refers to excessive current that results from a load consuming more current than the circuit was designed to handle over time, rather than a sudden, dramatic spike due to a direct connection.