Science Fair Project Encyclopedia

Overload

An overload is a situation where a machine or system is subjected to a greater load than it was designed for. Electrical overload can be caused by short circuit, by incorrect installation, or by misuse such as running a high-powered appliance off a low-power extension cable. Systems should incorporate suitable overload protection devices to prevent damage should such a situation occur. Fuses and circuit breakers are commonly employed for this purpose.

function overloading, and operator overloading, in software engineering. In hacker jargon, a word is said to be overloaded if it can have multiple meanings, depending on context.

Information overload, in psychology, organization science, management information systems, communication sciences, media studies, and accounting. It designates a situation where the individual is no longer able to process incoming information adequately in the available amount of time.

10-26-2009 08:16:03
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