Identify a possible cause of CPU or circuit board failure.

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is a significant cause of failure in CPUs and circuit boards. ESD occurs when there is a sudden flow of electricity between two electrically charged objects, which can generate high voltage and cause damage to sensitive electronic components. CPUs and circuit boards are particularly vulnerable to ESD because they contain small, delicate circuitry that can easily be disrupted or destroyed by high-voltage spikes.

When static electricity is discharged, it can lead to a range of failures, from minor functional issues to complete breakdowns of the circuit board or CPU. Therefore, proper handling and grounding techniques are essential in environments where electronic components are used to prevent damage from electrostatic discharges.

In the context of other options: while electromagnetic inductance, magnetic flux, and electromotive force pertain to various electrical and magnetism principles, they do not directly relate to the immediate impact of static electricity on sensitive electronic components.