Resistor

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/resistor

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the unit of measurement?Ohms (Ω)
2. What is the governing principle?Ohm's Law (V=IR) and Joule's Law of Heating (P=I²R)
3. What is a resistor and why do we use it?A resistor is a small device that adds a fixed amount of opposition to electric current, measured in ohms. It helps control how much voltage and current flow in a circuit, keeping electronic parts safe and working properly.
4. How does a resistor make heat?When electrons travel through a resistor, they bump into atoms and transfer energy. This turns the energy into heat, a process called Joule heating, and the amount of heat depends on the current and the resistor's value.

Impedance: The total opposition to alternating current flow, including resistance and reactance.
Voltage Divider: A simple circuit using resistors to produce an output voltage that is a fraction of the input voltage.
Surface-Mount Device (SMD): Electronic components designed to be soldered directly onto the surface of a printed circuit board.