In which residential wiring configuration are the tip and ring wires run in a circular pattern?

The correct answer is that the wiring configuration where the tip and ring wires are run in a circular pattern is a ring network. In a ring network, each device or connection point is connected to exactly two other devices, forming a circular pathway for signals. This setup allows for data to travel in one direction around the loop, and if one connection fails, it can disrupt the entire network unless a dual-ring or redundancy is implemented.

In contrast, a star configuration involves all devices being connected to a central hub or switch. This design does not create a closed loop, as each device connects independently to the hub. Backfeed refers to a situation in electrical systems where power flows in the reverse direction, generally used in the context of energy sources, not a wiring configuration. Mesh topology features multiple interconnections among devices, allowing for multiple pathways for data, but again, this does not create a circular pattern for the tip and ring wires.

Therefore, a ring network is the appropriate configuration that utilizes a circular running pattern for the tip and ring wires in residential wiring scenarios.