What occurs during a temporary overload in a motor?

During a temporary overload, the motor is subjected to a sudden increase in load beyond its normal operating capacity, typically for a brief period. In this scenario, when the motor is started, it may encounter a higher-than-normal load that it needs to overcome. This situation is often temporary and can happen during normal operation, such as when the motor is initially starting up under heavy load conditions.

While the other options suggest various states or conditions of the motor, they do not accurately capture the nature of what occurs during a temporary overload. For instance, running at reduced speed implies that the motor's capability is being diminished, which is not characteristic of an overload; a consistent load may refer to stable operating conditions, not an overload scenario; and entering a shutdown mode suggests a failure or protective action that may occur from prolonged or excess overload, rather than a temporary condition which typically occurs upon startup. Therefore, the most fitting description of the motor's behavior during a temporary overload is its initiation phase, where it starts to operate under heavy load.