How does a resistor affect the current in an electrical circuit?

Question

aravindg · Answer

Take a simple example. Imagine if there is a small stream and you start putting pebbles in its path. What happens?

anonymous · Answer

you block it

aravindg · Answer

Yep. The stream is the current and pebbles represent the resistor.

anonymous · Answer

so the resistor absorbs all the electricty?

aravindg · Answer

When you put a resistor in a circuit it blocks the current and hence reduces it. Greater the resistance, lesser the current.

aravindg · Answer

A resistor absorbs energy and dissipates it as heat. The regulators in fans work on this principle. There we use a variable resistor and  it helps us to increase or decrease the current enabling us to control the fan speed.

anonymous · Answer

thanks

aravindg · Answer

yw :)

radar · Answer

Resistors provide control of current.  A resistor added to a series circuit will reduce the current.  A resistor added to a parallel circuit will increase the total current.|dw:1400026807056:dw|