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Difficulty: MediumResistors and Potentiometers

Complete the technical description of variable resistive components: What specific terms correctly complete the statement regarding the movable contact and the voltage-dividing component?

Answer:In a variable resistor, the adjustable mechanical contact that slides along the resistive track is called the 【wiper】, and a three-terminal device configured to provide an adjustable output voltage is known as a 【potentiometer】.

Answer

The mechanical sliding contact is the wiper, and the three-terminal variable resistor configured to adjust voltage is a potentiometer.
A variable resistor contains a movable contact known as a wiper (or slider) that sweeps across a resistive strip. When all three terminals are utilized—two connected across a voltage source and one to the wiper—the component functions as an adjustable voltage divider called a potentiometer.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the component's internal mechanical contact mechanism.
The adjustable element that physically traverses the resistive track is termed the wiper.
The wiper provides an electrical connection at any point along the resistive element to pick off a variable resistance value.
2
Identify the standard three-terminal variable resistor designed for voltage adjustment.
A three-terminal variable resistor acting as a voltage divider is a potentiometer.
When connected across a potential difference with the wiper serving as the variable output, it functions as an adjustable voltage divider.

Key Concept

Variable Resistor Construction and Potentiometer Operation
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Resistors and Potentiometers

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