Editing Potentiometer (section)

{{short description|Type of resistor, usually with three terminals}}
{{About|the electrical component|the measuring instrument|Potentiometer (measuring instrument)}}
{{Infobox electronic component
|name              = Potentiometer
|image             = File:Electronic-Component-Potentiometer.jpg
|image_size        = 220px
|caption           = A typical single-turn potentiometer
|type              = [[Passive component|Passive]]
|working_principle = 
|invented          =
|first_produced    = 
|symbol            = [[File:Potentiometer symbol Europe.svg|50px]] (IEC Standard)<br/>[[File:Potentiometer symbol.svg|50px]] (ANSI Standard)
|pins              = 
}}

A '''potentiometer''' is a three-[[terminal (electronics)|terminal]] [[resistor]] with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable [[voltage divider]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The Authoritative Dictionary of IEEE Standards Terms (IEEE 100) |edition=seventh |publisher=IEEE Press |location=Piscataway, New Jersey |isbn=0-7381-2601-2 |year=2000 }}</ref> If only two terminals are used, one end and the wiper, it acts as a '''variable resistor''' or '''rheostat'''.

The measuring instrument called a [[Potentiometer (measuring instrument)|potentiometer]] is essentially a [[voltage divider]] used for measuring [[electric potential]] (voltage); the component is an implementation of the same principle, hence its name.

Potentiometers are commonly used to control electrical devices such as volume controls on audio equipment. It is also used in speed control of fans. Potentiometers operated by a mechanism can be used as position [[transducer]]s, for example, in a [[joystick]]. Potentiometers are rarely used to directly control significant power (more than a [[watt]]), since the power dissipated in the potentiometer would be comparable to the power in the controlled load.