what is a resistor and how does it work?

Question

easy explanation on resistor, it color code, and our to calculate it our many volt it can resist

Answer 1

It is a common misunderstanding that a resistor drops a fixed voltage. Not true.



A resistor is a device that develops a voltage drop when supplied with a current. OR, when a voltage is applied across it, a certain current flows.



These relationships are described by ohm's law:



Resistance in ohms equals voltage in volts divided by current in amps, or R = E/I



A bit of algebra converts this to the other two versions:

voltage in volts equals current in amps times Resistance in ohms

E = IR

current in amps equals voltage in volts divided by Resistance in ohms

I = E/R



reference has color code.



.

Answer 2

I find it amazing how even the brightest get this wrong.

a resistor reduces the current flowing through it and nothing else except if it is not big enough physically it will over heat and burn out.

as well as having a resistance value it has a power rating.

when two or more are placed in series then they can be used as a potential divider as well as a current control device.the relationship to the amount of total resistance in a circuit and the voltage drop across one of the resistances is purely mathematical using ohms law.

so it is just a current control device and has wattage rating which must be considered when drawing current through it.

Answer 3

Resistors are the two insulators and conductors. you are able to think of of them as undesirable conductors or undesirable insulators. they're someplace in between. maximum resistor used in digital circuits are closer to the conductor end than the insulator end.

Answer 4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistor