New York State Real Estate Salesperson Licensing Practice Exam

A fuse serves the same function as a circuit breaker by providing overcurrent protection within an electrical circuit. Both devices are designed to prevent excessive current from flowing through the system, which can lead to overheating and potential electrical fires. When the current exceeds a certain level, a fuse melts and interrupts the circuit, whereas a circuit breaker trips and can be reset.

Transformers, relays, and contactors serve different purposes in electrical systems. Transformers are used to change the voltage levels in a circuit, relays act as electrically operated switches, and contactors are switches that can control a larger load or electrical power circuit but do not offer the same overcurrent protection function as fuses or circuit breakers. Thus, the correct answer is that a fuse serves the same protective function as a circuit breaker, safeguarding electrical systems from damage due to overcurrent.