Question

What is a DC Potentiometer?

Answer 1

Hint: The potentiometer is an electronic component. It is used to measure voltage. A difference between the ac potentiometer and dc potentiometer is that ac potentiometers measure the magnitude and also the phase of unknown voltage whereas dc potentiometer measures only the magnitude of the unknown voltage. The unknown voltage is calculated by both the devices by comparing it to a known reference.

Complete step by step answer:
A potentiometer is a three-terminal variable resistor. In the potentiometer, the resistance can be varied manually to control the electric current that flows through the circuit. Essentially it is a device that acts as an adjustable voltage divider.

The potentiometer is functioned by changing the position of a sliding contact across a uniform resistance. In this electronic component, the entire input voltage is applied across the entire length of the resistor. However, the output voltage is the voltage drop in between the fixed and sliding contact. In order to vary the output voltage, one is required to slide the sliding contact across the resistor.

Note:
There are various applications for a potentiometer. It can be used to compare the emf of a battery to a standard cell or measure the cell’s internal resistance or it can be used to calculate the voltage across the branch of a circuit. It is impertinent to note that potentiometer and rheostat are not the same devices. Some of the applications of an ac potentiometer are that it is used to calibrate an ammeter, measure the self reactant of a coil, and many other applications.