In general, potentiometers regulate voltage. Potentiometers modulate the resistance between the wiper and one of the end terminals to modify the output voltage when they are used as voltage dividers. The voltage output is modified by this variation in resistance, which also affects the voltage drop across the potentiometer.
Potentiometers, however, have the ability to indirectly influence a circuit is current. Ohm's law, for example, states that the current through a load will vary inversely with the load resistance in situations where the voltage across the load is constant and the load resistance varies (as a result of potentiometer adjustment). Potentiometers can therefore indirectly control current by changing the voltage across circuit components, even though they are not usually used to control current directly.
What are the 3 terminals on a potentiometer?
A potentiometer typically has three terminals:
End Terminal 1 (Terminal 1): This terminal is connected to one end of the resistive element inside the potentiometer.
End Terminal 2 (Terminal 3): This terminal is connected to the opposite end of the resistive element inside the potentiometer.
Wiper Terminal (Terminal 2): This terminal is connected to the movable contact, known as the wiper, which slides along the resistive track. The wiper terminal allows the user to adjust the position of the wiper along the resistive element, thereby varying the resistance between the wiper terminal and either end terminal.
The resistance between the wiper terminal and the end terminals varies when the wiper is moved along the resistive track, giving the circuit operator control over variables including voltage, current, and signal strength.
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