4.9.1

Potentiometer

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Potentiometer

A potentiometer is a component that divides the potential difference (energy driving charge round the circuit) within a circuit.

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Potentiometer

  • A potentiometer is made of a variable resistor connected in series with a resistor and an energy source.
  • The e.m.f. of the energy source is fixed.
  • Adding the potential differences across the resistors will equal the e.m.f. of the energy source.
    • The potential difference is the work done by a unit charge passing through a component.
    • The e.m.f. is the electrical work done by a source in moving a unit charge around a complete circuit.
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Potential difference

  • Increasing the resistance of the variable resistor increases the potential difference across variable resistor, labelled V2.
  • Because the potential difference across the two components adds up to a fixed value, the potential difference across the other resistor, labelled V1 will fall to make up for this.

Jump to other topics

1Motion, Forces & Energy

1.1Physical Quantities & Measurement Techniques

1.2Motion

1.3Mass & Weight

1.4Density

1.5Forces: Effects of Forces

1.6Forces: Turning Effects of Forces

1.7Forces: Centre of Gravity

1.8Momentum

1.9Energy, Work, & Power: Energy

1.10Energy, Work & Power: Work

1.11Energy, Work & Power: Energy Resources

1.12Energy, Work & Power: Power

1.13Pressure

2Thermal Physics

3Waves

4Electricity & Magnetism

4.1Simple Phenomena of Magnetism

4.2Electrical Quantities: Electric Charge

4.3Electrical Quantities: Electric Current

4.4Electromotive Force & Potential Difference

4.5Electrical Quantities: Resistance

4.6Electrical Energy & Electrical Power

4.7Electric Circuits: Circuit Diagrams & Components

4.8Electric Circuits: Series & Parallel Circuits

4.9Electric Circuits: Action & Use

4.10Electrical Safety

4.11Electromagnetic Effects: Electromagnetic Induction

4.12Electromagnetic Effects: The A.C. Generator

4.13Magnetic Effect of a Current

4.14Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor

4.15Electromagnetic Effects: The D.C. Motor

4.16Electromagnetic Effects: The Transformer

5Nuclear Physics

6Space Physics

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