Potentiometer

Type of resistor, usually with three terminals

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Why this is trending

Interest in “Potentiometer” spiked on Wikipedia on 2026-02-26.

Categorised under Business & Economy, this article fits a familiar pattern. wt.cat.business.2

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2026-01-28Peak: 6062026-02-26

30-day total: 13,501

Key Takeaways

A potentiometer is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider.
If only two terminals are used, one end and the wiper, it acts as a variable resistor or rheostat .
Potentiometers are commonly used to control electrical devices such as volume controls on audio equipment.
Potentiometers operated by a mechanism can be used as position transducers, for example, in a joystick.

A potentiometer is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. In motion control systems, potentiometers are frequently used as position sensors to provide analog feedback to a controller, allowing for precise tracking of mechanical movement. 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 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 transducers, 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.