What could indicate that a circuit breaker has been tripped?

One or more outlets not functioning can indeed indicate that a circuit breaker has been tripped. When a breaker trips, it interrupts the flow of electricity, stopping power to the outlets and devices connected to that circuit. This is a safety feature designed to prevent overheating and potential fires due to overloading or short circuits. If you notice that specific outlets are dead while others in different circuits are functioning normally, it suggests that the circuit breaker controlling those outlets has tripped and needs to be reset.

The other choices do not reliably indicate a tripped circuit breaker in the same way. Flickering lights can occur for various reasons, including loose connections or fluctuations in the power supply, but they don't necessarily mean a breaker has tripped. A warm circuit breaker may indicate a problem, such as overheating due to excessive current, but wouldn't be a direct sign that it has tripped. Finally, a sparkling main electrical panel is a serious hazard and could indicate a dangerous electrical malfunction but does not correlate with a tripped circuit breaker. In contrast, non-functioning outlets directly point to the breaker issue, making that choice the clearest indication of a tripped breaker.