What happens to contacts in mechanical switches when they are activated?

When mechanical switches are activated, the contacts can indeed bounce, making and breaking connections momentarily. This phenomenon occurs due to the physical movement of the switch's components. When you press the switch, the contacts are not always perfectly aligned immediately, leading to brief fluctuations in the connection. This bouncing can generate multiple transitions between the open and closed states in a very short period, potentially causing multiple signals to be sent to the circuits attached to the switch.

Understanding this bouncing effect is important in digital electronics, as it can lead to unintended consequences if not managed properly. For instance, in digital circuits, the bouncing can result in false triggering if the circuit is not designed to debounce the signal—an essential consideration in circuit design to ensure reliable operation of switches and buttons.