A resistor is an electrical component that resists and regulates the flow of electrical current in a circuit
. It is a passive two-terminal component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element
. Resistors have multiple functions:
- Current control Resistors limit current flow to prevent damage to other components
- Voltage adjustment Resistors can be used to attenuate voltage in a circuit, thereby adjusting voltage levels
. They help components receive the correct voltage by creating a "voltage drop"
- Adjusting circuit response In some circuits, resistors adjust the response characteristics, and by varying resistance, parameters such as frequency response and amplitude response can be adjusted
- Current distribution Resistors distribute current to different branches in parallel circuits
- Voltage regulation Resistors can be part of voltage regulators, which aid in stabilizing voltage within the circuit
- Temperature sensing Special resistors change resistance with temperature changes, making them suitable for temperature sensing applications
- Filtering Resistors, along with capacitors and inductors, can form filter circuits to eliminate high- or low-frequency noise from the circuit
- Time Delay In certain applications, resistors combined with capacitors create time delay effects, delaying certain operations to occur at specific times, such as in pulse circuits or timing circuits
There are various types of resistors, including carbon-composition, film, and wire-wound resistors
. The most common type is the carbon resistor, which is best suited for lower- powered circuits
