1.

Resistors

A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical

resistance as a circuit element. Resistors may be used to reduce current flow, and, at the same
time, may act to lower voltage levels within circuits. In electronic circuits, resistors are used
to limit current flow, to adjust signal levels, bias active elements, and terminate transmission
lines among other uses.

2. Purpose of Resistors in a Circuit

The main purpose of resistors in a circuit is to control the flow of current to other components.
For example, if too much current flows through the LED (light) it is destroyed. So a resistor
is used to limit the current.

Resistors are small electronic components built of carbon or metal wire. They are made to
remain stable and maintain a proper resistance value in a varying range of conditions.

3. Types of Resistors
Based on Conductive Properties of Resistor
Linear Resistor
- whose resistance remains constant with increase in the potential difference or
voltage applied to it
Non Linear Resistor
- the current passed through it, is not exactly directly proportional to the potential
difference applied to it
Based on Resistors Value
Fixed Value Resistor
- whose value is fixed already while manufacturing and cannot be changed during
its usage
- most widely used type of resistor
Variable Resistor or Potentiometer
- whose value can be changed during its usage
- contains a shaft which can be rotated or moved by hand or a screw driver to change
its value in between a fixed range
Package Resistor
- contains a package which consists of two or more resistors inside it
- it has many terminals and the resistors resistance can be chosen by using any two
terminals among the available terminals or can also be used as an resistor array for
various purposes
Based on Composition
Carbon Composition
- Made by a composition of carbon particles which are hold together by a binding
resign. The proportion of carbon particles and resign used determines the value of
the resistor. At both ends of the composition a Metal Cap with a small rod of tin is
attached to solder it or use it in circuits , then the whole package is enclosed in a
plastic case to prevent moisture and reaction with air.
- These types of resistors normally produces noise in circuit due to electron passing
through one carbon particle to another , thus these types or resistors are not used in
critical circuits although they are cheap.
Carbon Deposition
- Made by depositing a thin layer of carbon around a ceramic. They are made by
heating a ceramic rod inside a flask of methane and depositing the carbon around it
 by using Glass Cracking process. The value of resistor is determined by
the amount of carbon deposited around the ceramic rod.
High Voltage Ink Film
- Made by coating a special resistive ink in a helical band above a ceramic base.
These resistors can withstand very high voltage of up to one thousands of kilo
voltages and usually have high resistance too ranging from on kilo ohms to one
hundred thousand mega ohms.
Metal Film
- Made by depositing vaporized metal in vacuum on a ceramic core rod. These types
of resistors are very reliable , have high tolerance and also have high
temperature coefficient. These types of resistors are costlier compared to other but
are used in critical systems.
Metal Glaze
- Made up of glass and metal which is mixed and applied as a thick films to a ceramic
substrate and then fired to form a film.
Wire Wound
- Made by winding a metal wire around a ceramic core. The metal wire is an alloy of
various metals based on the characteristics and resistance of the resistor required.
These types of resistor have high stability and can also withstand high powers but
are usually bulkier compared to other types of resistors.
Ceramic Metal
- Made by firing certain metals blended with ceramics on a ceramic substrate.
The proportion of the mixture in the blended ceramic and metal determines the
value of the resistor. These type of resistors are very stable and also
have accurate resistance. These types of resistors are mostly used as Surface Mount
type resistor for using in SMD PCB.

4. Measuring Resistor Values (Resistor Color Code)

The Standard Resistor Colour Code Chart.
 The Resistor Colour Code Table

Calculating Resistor Values

The left-hand or the most significant coloured band is the band which is nearest to a connecting
lead with the colour coded bands being read from left-to-right as follows;

Digit, Digit, Multiplier = Colour, Colour x 10 colour in Ohms (s)

For example, a resistor has the following coloured markings;

Yellow Violet Red = 4 7 2 = 4 7 x 102 = 4700 or 4k7.

The fourth and fifth bands are used to determine the percentage tolerance of the resistor. Resistor
tolerance is a measure of the resistors variation from the specified resistive value and is a
consequence of the manufacturing process and is expressed as a percentage of its nominal or
preferred value.

References:
Resistor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistor
LESSON 2 - RESISTORS - MadLab. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.madlab.org/electrnx/lesson2.html
Types of Resistors | Electronics Tutorials. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://electronicspani.com/types-of-resistors/
Resistor Colour Code and Resistor Tolerances Explained. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/resistor/res_2.html