A voltage reading across a set of contacts indicates that the contacts are open.

A voltage reading across a set of contacts indicates that the contacts are open.

• A. The contacts are open.
• B. The contacts are closed.
• C. The circuit is shorted.
• D. The voltage source is faulty.

Answer: (A)

Open contacts create a break in the circuit, so a voltmeter connected across the gap will read the potential difference between the two sides. That voltage across the gap indicates there is no conductive path, meaning the contacts are open. If the contacts were closed, the path would be complete and the voltage across them would be near zero because the two sides are effectively the same node. A shorted condition would behave differently by creating a low-resistance path that changes current flow, and a faulty voltage source would show abnormal readings that aren’t just the status of the contacts.

Open contacts create a break in the circuit, so a voltmeter connected across the gap will read the potential difference between the two sides. That voltage across the gap indicates there is no conductive path, meaning the contacts are open. If the contacts were closed, the path would be complete and the voltage across them would be near zero because the two sides are effectively the same node. A shorted condition would behave differently by creating a low-resistance path that changes current flow, and a faulty voltage source would show abnormal readings that aren’t just the status of the contacts.