Mechatronics End-of-Pathway (EOP) Practice Test

NC stands for normally closed. In many switches, “normally” refers to the resting condition with no input applied. A normally closed contact is connected (conducting) when the switch is not actuated. Pressing the actuator separates the contacts and breaks the circuit. This is in contrast to normally open, which is open at rest and only closes when actuated. Open circuit describes the absence of a path that results after actuation, but it’s not the designation itself. Grounded is about a connection to earth, not the contact state.