Explain the meaning of overloading of an electrical circuit. List two possible causes due to which overloading may occur in household circuits. Write one preventive measure that should be taken to avoid overloading of domestic circuits.

Overloading of an electrical circuit refers to the situation when the total power drawn from the circuit exceeds the maximum limit that the circuit is designed to handle. This can cause damage to the circuit and its components, and can also lead to a fire. Two possible causes of overloading in household circuits are: (1) Connecting too many appliances to a single socket or extension cord, and (2) Using appliances that have a higher power rating than the circuit is designed to handle. To avoid overloading of domestic circuits, one preventive measure that should be taken is to use a fuse or a circuit breaker that can detect when the current drawn from the circuit exceeds a certain limit and automatically switch off the power supply to the circuit.