What Is A Resistor
What Is A Resistor
What Is A Resistor
Special components called resistors are made for the express purpose of creating a precise
quantity of resistance for insertion into a circuit. They are typically constructed of metal wire
or carbon and engineered to maintain a stable resistance value over a wide range of
environmental conditions.
Unlike lamps, they do not produce light, but they do produce heat as electric power is
dissipated by them in a working circuit. Typically, though, the purpose of a resistor is not to
produce usable heat, but simply to provide a precise quantity of electrical resistance.
Resistor values in ohms are usually shown as an adjacent number, and if several resistors are
present in a circuit, they will be labeled with a unique identifier number such as R 1, R2, R3,
etc. As you can see, resistor symbols can be shown either horizontally or vertically:
Real resistors look nothing like the zig-zag symbol. Instead, they look like small tubes or
cylinders with two wires protruding for connection to a circuit. Here is a sampling of different
kinds and sizes of resistors:
In keeping more with their physical appearance, an alternative schematic symbol for a
resistor looks like a small, rectangular box:
Resistors can also be shown to have varying rather than fixed resistances. This might be to
describe an actual physical device designed to provide an adjustable resistance, or it could
be to show some component that just happens to have an unstable resistance:
Any time you see a component symbol drawn with a diagonal arrow through it, that
component has a variable rather than a fixed value. This symbol “modifier” (the diagonal
arrow) is a standard electronic symbol convention.
Variable Resistors
Variable resistors must have some physical means of adjustment, either a rotating shaft or
lever that can be moved to vary the amount of electrical resistance. Here is a photograph
showing some devices called potentiometers, which can be used as variable resistors:
The power rating of any resistor is roughly proportional to its physical size. Note in the first
resistor photograph how the power ratings relate with size: the bigger the resistor, the higher
its power dissipation rating. Also, note how resistances (in ohms) have nothing to do with
size! Although it may seem pointless now to have a device doing nothing but resisting
electric current, resistors are extremely useful devices in circuits.
Because they are simple and so commonly used throughout the world of electricity and
electronics, we’ll spend a considerable amount of time analyzing circuits composed of
nothing but resistors and batteries.
The various components on this circuit board are identified by printed labels. Resistors are
denoted by any label beginning with the letter “R”.
The particular circuit board is a computer accessory called a “modem,” which allows digital
information transfer over telephone lines. There are at least a dozen resistors (all rated at 1/4
watt power dissipation) that can be seen on this modem’s board. Every one of the black
rectangles (called “integrated circuits” or “chips”) contain their own array of resistors for their
internal functions, as well. Another circuit board example shows resistors packaged in even
smaller units, called “surface mount devices.”
This particular circuit board is the underside of a personal computer hard disk drive, and
once again the resistors soldered onto it are designated with labels beginning with the letter
“R”:
There are over one hundred surface-mount resistors on this circuit board, and this count, of
course, does not include the number of resistors internal to the black “chips.” These two
photographs should convince anyone that resistors—devices that “merely” oppose the flow
of electric current—are very important components in the realm of electronics!
Inserting the known quantities of voltage (E) and current (I) into these two equations, we can
determine circuit resistance (R) and power dissipation (P):
For the circuit conditions of 10 volts and 2 amps, the resistor’s resistance must be 5 Ω. If we
were designing a circuit to operate at these values, we would have to specify a resistor with a
minimum power rating of 20 watts, or else it would overheat and fail.
Resistor Materials
Resistors can be found in a variety of different materials, each one with its own properties
and specific areas of use. Most electrical engineers use the types found below:
Low noise and stability with respect to temperature variations are standard characteristics of
Wire Wound Resistors. Resistance values are available from 0.1 up to 100 kΩ, with accuracies
between 0.1% and 20%.
Foil Resistors
Developed in the 1960s, the foil resistor is still one of the most accurate and stable types of
resistor that you’ll find and are used for applications with high precision requirements. A
ceramic substrate that has a thin bulk metal foil cemented to it makes up the resistive
element. Foil Resistors feature a very low-temperature coefficient of resistance.
Carbon Composition (CCR) Resistors
Until the 1960s Carbon Composition Resistors were the standard for most applications. They
are reliable, but not very accurate (their tolerance cannot be better than about 5%). A mixture
of fine carbon particles and non-conductive ceramic material are used for the resistive
element of CCR Resistors.
The substance is molded into the shape of a cylinder and baked. The dimensions of the body
and the ratio of carbon to ceramic material determine the resistance value. More carbon
used in the process means there will be a lower resistance. CCR resistors are still useful for
certain applications because of their ability to withstand high energy pulses, a good example
application would be in a power supply.