A resistor is an electrical component that limits or regulates the flow of electrical current in a circuit. It provides resistance, measured in ohms ($\Omega$), to control voltage and current levels.
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The total resistance in a series circuit is the sum of all individual resistances: $R_{total} = R_1 + R_2 + ... + R_n$.
In a parallel circuit, the inverse of the total resistance is the sum of the inverses of each individual resistance: $\frac{1}{R_{total}} = \frac{1}{R_1} + \frac{1}{R_2} + ... + \frac{1}{R_n}$.
Ohm's Law, $V = IR$, relates voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R).
Resistors can be used to control voltage drops and divide voltages within circuits.
Power dissipation in a resistor is given by $P = I^2R$ or equivalently $P = \frac{V^2}{R}$.
Review Questions
How do you calculate the total resistance of resistors connected in series?
Explain how Ohm's Law relates voltage, current, and resistance.
What is the formula for power dissipation in a resistor?
A fundamental principle stating that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the voltage across the two points: $V = IR$.