What is a DC Potentiometer?

A potentiometer is an adjustable resistor having a wiper which slides to increase or decrease resistance over a resistive strip.

  • A potentiometer is a variable resistor used to create a customizable voltage divider.
  • The potentiometer is a three-terminal device used to regulate voltage whereas a rheostat is a two-terminal device used to control current.
  • Electromechanical instruments that are designed to quickly adjust the resistance values are potentiometer, rheostat, and trimmer.

The potential lowered over a uniform cross-section wire segment carries a constant current which is directly proportional to its length. A potentiometer is a basic instrument that is used for calculating electrical potential.


Related Questions

  1. Sensitivity of potentiometer can be increased by___________
  2. What is balance point in potentiometer?
  3. Which Metal Is Used In Potentiometer?
  4. How does a potentiometer measure EMF?

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CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

  • 1.
    Read the following paragraph and answer the questions that follow.
    A p-type or n-type semiconductor can be converted into a p-n junction by doping it with suitable impurity. The motion of majority charge carriers causes diffusion current across the junction while the barrier electric field causes motion of minority carriers for drift current. In case of unbiased diode, the diffusion and drift currents are equal. This equilibrium is disturbed by the biasing batteries. Diodes, therefore, allow currents in one direction. This property of diode is used in making rectifiers.


      • 2.
        An electric field $\vec{E}$ is established across the ends of a cylindrical conductor of length L and area of cross-section A. Discuss how electrons attain an average velocity, independent of time. Hence, obtain a relation between current in the conductor and this ‘average velocity’ of electrons.


          • 3.
            The resistance of a metal wire at \( 20^\circ \text{C} \) is \( 1.05 \, \Omega \) and at \( 100^\circ \text{C} \) is \( 1.38 \, \Omega \). Determine the temperature coefficient of resistivity of this metal.


              • 4.
                A student sets up the circuit as shown in the figure to find the value of unknown resistance X and records a set of readings of the voltmeter and the ammeter by using the rheostat.


                  • 5.
                    Two air-filled capacitors of capacitances $C_1$ and $C_2$ are connected in parallel with a dc battery. After the capacitors are fully charged, a slab of dielectric constant K is inserted between the plates of each capacitor. How will the (i) charge on each capacitor and (ii) energy stored in the capacitor affected after the slab is introduced.


                      • 6.
                        Two metal spheres of radii $r_1$ and $r_2$ ($> r_1$) having charges $q_1$ and $q_2$ respectively kept in air, are brought in contact. Which of the following statements is not correct ?

                          • The total charge of the two spheres is conserved.
                          • Both spheres attain the same potential.
                          • The final potential of the system equals $\frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{(q_1 + q_2)}{(r_1 + r_2)}$
                          • The final potential of the system equals $\frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0} \frac{(q_1 + q_2) (r_1 + r_2)}{r_1 r_2}$
                        CBSE CLASS XII Previous Year Papers

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