Potentiometers: Self-Assessment Questions

Listed below are the self-assessment questions for the video on Potentiometers:

1. Which of the following circuit components does a potentiometer’s function most closely resemble?
   A. Capacitor
   B. Resistor
   C. Inductor
   D. LED
2. What physics principle explains why potentiometers are able to vary resistance within the device? (Hint: how does varying resistor length change resistance?)
3. How must a potentiometer be connected in a circuit in order to create a rheostat, and what pins are used in this case? How must a potentiometer be connected in a circuit in order to create a voltage divider, and what pins are used in this case?
4. If you are building a passive circuit that uses an inverting operational amplifier with a gain of -100, would you use a potentiometer to create this gain? Why or why not?

Follow this link to check your answers to the self-assessment questions (SAQ) above.