Electronic Resistors Review

Electronic Electrical Devices

Resistors are electrical or electronic components which resist the flow of current across the resistor device. The resistance to current flow results in a voltage drop across the resistor device. Resistors are used extensively throughout electrical and electronic circuits.

Resistor devices may provide a fixed, variable, or adjustable value of resistance. Adjustable resistors are refers to as rheostats, or potentiometers. Resistor values are expressed in Ohms, the electric resistance unit.

Applications:

Resistors are incorporated within a electrical or electronic circuit create a known voltage drop or current to voltage relationship. If the electrical current in a circuit is known (current is measured in amperes), then a resistor can be used to create a known potential difference (voltage difference) proportional to that current. Conversely, if the voltage drop (potential difference) across two points in a circuit is known, a resistor can be used to create a known current proportional to that difference.

An attenuator is a network of two or more resistors (a voltage divider).

A line terminator is a resistor at the end of a transmission line or daisy chain bus, designed to match impedance and minimize reflections of the electronic signal.