What are potentiometers?
Q: What are potentiometers?
A: Potentiometers are variable resistors that allow the resistance to be changed using a knob or slider.
Q: What are some things that potentiometers are used to control?
A: Potentiometers are used to control the brightness or dimness of lights in a house, as well as volume controls on a television.
Q: How are potentiometers used in voltage dividers?
A: Potentiometers are used in voltage dividers as they can divide the voltage and adjust the output.
Q: Who invented the carbon potentiometer commonly used today?
A: Thomas Edison invented the carbon potentiometer we use today at the age of 25 and called it a "coiled resistance wire rheostat".
Q: When was Thomas Edison's patent for the carbon potentiometer issued?
A: Thomas Edison's patent for the carbon potentiometer was issued in 1872.
Q: What are carbon resistors and their typical uses?
A: Carbon resistors are the most commonly used resistors today and are used in radios to regulate volume, and in televisions to control picture brightness, contrast and color response.
Q: Why did people invent a device to control the amount of electricity going to a component?
A: The idea behind the development of a device to help control the amount of electricity going to a component stemmed from the need to regulate and fine-tune the performance of electrical equipment.
