SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/ham-potentiometer-volume

What type of component is often used as an adjustable volume control?

A potentiometer, a variable resistor.

  1. Fixed resistor
  2. Transformer
  3. Potentiometer ✔

Why: A potentiometer is a resistor with a sliding contact that you turn or slide. Changing its resistance changes how much signal gets through, which sets the volume.

Huh, didn't know that: A potentiometer usually has three terminals, and the middle one connects to the moving wiper.

The dad joke
Why did the potentiometer get promoted? It knew how to turn things up a notch.
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Sources

  1. NCVEC 2026-2030 Technician Question Pool (Feb 19, 2026 release) https://www.ncvec.org/downloads/2026-2030%20Technician%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%20Public%20Release%20Feb%2019%202026.pdf

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That's stuff everyone should know.