If the resistance of the potentiometer wire is increased, what effect does it have on the measurement accuracy?
Correct Answer: Measurement accuracy decreases.
- Step 1: Understand what a potentiometer is. It is a device used to measure voltage by comparing it to a known reference voltage.
- Step 2: Know that the potentiometer wire has a certain resistance that affects how it works.
- Step 3: When the resistance of the potentiometer wire is increased, it causes a larger voltage drop across the wire.
- Step 4: A larger voltage drop means that the voltage available for measurement is reduced.
- Step 5: This reduction can make it harder to accurately balance the potentiometer, leading to potential errors in the measurement.
- Step 6: Therefore, increasing the resistance of the potentiometer wire can decrease the accuracy of the measurements.
- Potentiometer Functionality – Understanding how a potentiometer measures voltage and the role of wire resistance in its operation.
- Voltage Drop and Measurement Accuracy – The relationship between resistance, voltage drop, and the precision of measurements in electrical circuits.
