Resistors

Resistors

A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that

implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. In electronic
circuits, resistors are used to reduce current flow, adjust signal levels,
to divide voltages, bias active elements, and terminate transmission
lines, among other uses.
There are a few type of resistors such as Fixed resistors, which have
resistances that only change slightly with temperature, time or
operating voltage or Variable resistors can be used to adjust circuit
elements (such as a volume control or a lamp dimmer), or as sensing
devices for heat, light, humidity, force, or chemical activity.

The representation of resistors in a circuit diagram can be done in the

following ways:
Fig 1.1
a resistor as represented in a circuit diagram is shown in figure 1.1
Fig 1.2
A variable resistance or a rheostat as represented in a circuit diagram is

depicted in figure 1.2
Resistance is a measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical

circuit or the measure of current flowing against the resistors.
1
A circuit
diagram
representing
the placement
of resistors and
rheostat in a
circuit
The Si unit of resistance is measured in ohms, symbolized by the Greek

letter omega (Ω). Ohms are named after Georg Simon Ohm (1784-
1854), a German physicist who studied the relationship
between voltage, current and resistance. He is credited for
formulating Ohm's Law.
Resistors work on a simple theory of operation known as Ohm’s Law.

Ohm’s Law states that the voltage (V) across a resistor is proportional
to the current (I) passing through it, where the constant of
proportionality is the resistance (R). For example, if a 300-ohm resistor
is attached across the terminals of a 12-volt battery, then a current of
12 / 300 = 0.04 amperes flows through that resistor
The ohm (symbol: Ω) is the SI unit of electrical resistance, named

after Georg Simon Ohm. An ohm is equivalent to a volt per ampere(V/I).
Since resistors are specified and manufactured over a very large range
of values, the derived units of milliohm (1 mΩ = 10−3 Ω), kilohm (1 kΩ =
103 Ω), and megohm (1 MΩ = 106 Ω) are also in common usage.
Some pictures of resistors in circuits can be seen in figure 1.4
2
Fig 1.4
Resistors can be arranged in two types of arrangements, Series and
Parallel.
Series Combination:
In Series Combination the total resistance of two or more resistors
is the sum of resistance of all the resistors combined.
The combination can be represented by this method in a circuit
diagram.
Fig 1.5
It can be depicted as RS = R1 + R2 + R3.
In Series combination the Potential Difference (V) is different for the

resistors while the Current (I) flowing through them is the same.
The above equation can be derived by the following method.
Where RS is the equivalent resistance of the circuit.

3
Parallel Combination:
In Parallel Combination the total resistance of two or more resistors is

the reciprocal of the sum of each individual resistor.
The combination can be represented by this method in a circuit
diagram
Fig 1.6
It can be depicted as 1/RP = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3.
In a parallel combination the Potential Difference (V) stays the same for
the resistors, while the Current (I) flowing through them is different.
The above equation can be derived by the following method.
4
Where RP is the equivalent resistance of the circuit.
Resistivity
Resistance can also be related to the term Resistivity, which is the
electrical resistance of a conductor of unit cross-sectional area and unit
length. It is denoted by the Greek letter rho (ρ). It can be derived by a
general equation, which is:
Where
p = resistivity
R = resistance
A = area of cross section
l = length of the material/conductor
The SI unit of resistivity is ohm-m (Ωm)
Resistivity of a material only depends on the temperature of its

surroundings or the material itself. p ∝T
Where T is temperature.
Every material has some innate resistivity, irrespective of their shape
and size, same material have the same resistivity, but a long, thin
copper wire has a much larger resistance than a thick, short copper
wire. Every material has its own characteristic resistivity.
A major difference between resistance and resistivity is that resistance

is the electrical resistance of an object is a measure of its opposition to
the flow of electric current, while resistivity is the characteristic
property of the material by which it resists the amount of current
through it.
5
Color Coding Of Resistors
The figure explains simply what the

rings and the colors represent, the
first ring represents the first
significant value, in our case its green
so the first significant value is 5, and
the second ring is blue, so the second
significant value is 6, and the third
ring is red, so the number obtained
from ring 1 and 2 will be multiplied by
100. Giving us a resistance of 5600Ω
for this resistor.
The last ring represents tolerance, it represents the possible variation in

the indicated values, in our case its 5%. So the resistance is 5600Ω ± 5%.
6
Potentiometer
A potentiometer is defined as a three-terminal resistor having either
sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. In
order to use the potentiometer as a rheostat or variable resistor, it
should have only two terminals with one end and the wiper.
Fig 1.11
Wheatstone Bridge
Wheatstone bridge, also known as the resistance bridge, calculates the
unknown resistance by balancing two legs of the bridge circuit. One leg
includes the component of unknown resistance.
The Wheatstone Bridge Circuit comprises two known resistors, one
unknown resistor and one variable resistor connected in the form of a
bridge. This bridge is very reliable as it gives accurate measurements.
7
Fig 1.12
Meter Bridge
A meter bridge also called a slide wire bridge is an instrument that
works on the principle of a Wheatstone bridge. A meter bridge is used
in finding the unknown resistance of a conductor as that of in a
Wheatstone bridge. A meter bridge is an apparatus utilized in finding
the unknown resistance of a coil. The below figure is the diagram of a
useful meter bridge instrument.
Fig 1.13 8
Applications
Some applications of resistors are as follows:
 Resistors are used in high frequency instrument.
 Resistor is used in power control circuit.
 It is used in DC power supplies.
 Resistors are used in filter circuit networks.
Bibilography
1. https://byjus.com
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistor
3. Physics Textbook Class 12 NCERT Part-1
4. Pradeep Fundamental Physics Part-1
5. http://youtube.com

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Resistors

A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that

The representation of resistors in a circuit diagram can be done in the

a resistor as represented in a circuit diagram is shown in figure 1.1

A variable resistance or a rheostat as represented in a circuit diagram is

Resistance is a measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical

The Si unit of resistance is measured in ohms, symbolized by the Greek

Resistors work on a simple theory of operation known as Ohm’s Law.

The ohm (symbol: Ω) is the SI unit of electrical resistance, named

Some pictures of resistors in circuits can be seen in figure 1.4

It can be depicted as RS = R1 + R2 + R3.

In Series combination the Potential Difference (V) is different for the

Where RS is the equivalent resistance of the circuit.

In Parallel Combination the total resistance of two or more resistors is

It can be depicted as 1/RP = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3.

The SI unit of resistivity is ohm-m (Ωm)

Resistivity of a material only depends on the temperature of its

A major difference between resistance and resistivity is that resistance

The figure explains simply what the

The last ring represents tolerance, it represents the possible variation in

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