Potentiometer also known as pot is generally used in circuits to provide variable resistance or variable voltage. The heart of the potentiometer is a resistive strip inside it through which one can adjust the amount of resistance/voltage to pass in a circuit through it.

Potentiometers are commonly used in circuits for various purposes like to control volume in audio circuits, to regulate the speed of the motor in a fan, as light dimmer, etc.

A potentiometer is an instrument for measuring the potential (voltage) in a circuit. Before the introduction of the moving coil and digital volt meters,potentiometers were used in measuring voltage, hence the ‘-meter’ part of their name.

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