Which of the following is an example of a motor disconnecting means?

A manually operated fused switch serves as a motor disconnecting means because it allows the operator to safely disconnect power from a motor for maintenance or emergency situations. This type of switch is designed to interrupt the electrical circuit and has the added safety feature of fuses, which protect against overloads by melting and breaking the circuit if excessive current flows.

The ability to manually operate the switch enhances safety, as it ensures that the power can be turned off deliberately before any maintenance work begins. This is crucial for preventing electrical accidents and ensuring safe operation of electrical devices. Other options, such as an automatic transfer switch, thermal overload relay, and ground fault circuit interrupter, serve different functions in electrical systems, like transfer of power between sources, protecting against overheating, and interrupting circuits in case of ground faults, respectively, but they do not fulfill the specific role of providing a means to manually disconnect a motor from its power source.