An outdoor gardener is using a mains-powered hedge trimmer with a metal casing. They are holding the trimmer with one hand and a metal support pole, which is deeply driven into the damp ground, with the other. The insulation on the power cord has worn away, letting the live wire make direct contact with the metal casing of the trimmer.
What main hazard does this situation present to the gardener?
A large electric current could pass through the gardener, electrocuting them.
The heat generated in the metal pole could cause severe thermal burns to their hand.
A large current could blow the main fuse and destroy the trimmer's motor immediately.
The short circuit could cause the trimmer's blades to oscillate at a dangerously high frequency.
135 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics Electrical safety, covering Electrical safety. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.