Resistor
/rɪˈzɪstər/
Definitions
A passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. Resistors are used to reduce current flow, adjust signal levels, to divide voltages, bias active elements, and terminate transmission lines, among other uses.
/rɪˈzɪstər/
An electrical component that opposes the flow of current.
The technician replaced the burnt-out resistor in the radio.
💡 Simply: Imagine a tiny speed bump in an electrical wire. A resistor is like that bump, making it harder for electricity to zoom through. They're used in everything from your phone to your TV to control how much power flows.
👶 For kids: A resistor is like a speed bump for electricity. It slows down the flow so things don't get too powerful!
More Examples
The schematic diagram showed the placement of each resistor in the circuit.
A resistor's value is measured in ohms.
How It's Used
"The circuit uses a 100-ohm resistor to limit the current."
"The failure of a resistor can often cause problems in the circuit."
From French *résisteur*, from *résister* ('to resist'), ultimately from Latin *resistere*.
The concept of electrical resistance and the use of resistors became prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the development of electrical circuits and radio technology.
Memory tip
Think of a 'resistor' as a gatekeeper in an electrical circuit, slowing down the flow like a toll booth on a highway.