What is the main purpose of the oil in an oil circuit breaker?

The main purpose of oil in an oil circuit breaker is to quench the arc. When an electrical fault occurs, the circuit breaker opens, and an arc can form between the contacts. The oil helps to extinguish this arc by absorbing heat and providing a medium that cools the gaseous ionized particles formed during the arcing process. This function is critical because prolonged arcing can damage the contacts and lead to malfunction or failure of the circuit breaker.

Other options, while they refer to various functions that could be associated with circuit breakers or electrical components, do not accurately describe the primary role of oil within an oil circuit breaker. For instance, while oil may have some cooling properties, its main function in this context is strictly to quench the arc rather than serve as a coolant for the components.