Understanding Short Circuiting in Electrical Circuits

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When the switch in the circuit is closed, current bypasses resistor R2 due to a lower resistance path created by the switch, effectively short-circuiting R2. If the connecting wire has no resistance, no current flows through R2; however, if there is some resistance, a small amount of current may still pass through it. This phenomenon is not exclusive to resistors; it applies similarly to capacitors when short-circuited. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding how current distribution changes based on circuit configuration. Overall, the concept of short-circuiting is crucial in analyzing electrical circuits and their behavior.
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A (roughly made) diagram of the circuit is given in the attachment. The red zigzags represent resistors R1 and R2; the blue line is a switch. Why is it that when the switch is closed, no current runs through R2? The explanation I was given was because there is an alternate resistance-free route...but can someone elaborate more on this. Technically, wouldn't the current split along the route?
 

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wut up...quick question: how long does it take for this pending approval process to finish?
 
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Can't see the image, but...I'm guessing the switch creates a path that shorts the ends of the resistor R2, right?

No current would flow in the resistor if the wire is perfect, with no resistance at all. If there is any resistance in the wire, then the current will be split, with the bulk of the current going through the wire, and the tiny remainder going through the resistor.
 
Thats right...it creates a path that shorts the ends of resistor R2. So, would that be a feature only for resistors, or would the same thing happen if I replaced R2 with a capacitor...or is that just a general feature of short circuiting?
 
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