Understanding Electronics www.
kitronik.
co.
uk Component uses and symbols
www.
kitronik.
co.
uk Page 1 of 5
Kitronik Ltd – Understanding component uses and symbols
Resistors
Functionality
A resistor is a device that opposes (or limits) the flow of...
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Understanding Electronics www.
kitronik.
co.
uk Component uses and symbols
www.
kitronik.
co.
uk Page 1 of 5
Kitronik Ltd – Understanding component uses and symbols
Resistors
Functionality
A resistor is a device that opposes (or limits) the flow of electrical current in a circuit.
The bigger the value
of a resistor the more it opposes (or resists) the current flow.
The amount of current that can flow through a resistor is given by the formula:
Current (in amps) = Voltage across the resistor / Resistance of the resistor (in ohms)
The value of a resistor is given in Ω (ohms) and is often referred to as its ‘resistance’.
Resistors are available in different values.
The bigger the resistance, the more it opposes the current that
flows through it.
Circuit symbols
The symbol to represent a resistor on a circuit diagram is a
rectangle, as shown left.
The symbol to represent a variable resistor on a circuit diagram is a
rectangle with an arrow point to it, as shown left.
Identifying res
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