What is the positive side of a resistor?
When a current flows through a resistor, the terminal through which the current enters into the resistor will be considered as positive terminal. And the other one through which the current goes out of the resistor will be then negative terminal.
Why is it important to use the correct resistor in your circuit?
Provide the proper voltage. Resistors ensure components receive the proper voltage by creating a voltage drop, and they can protect a component from voltage spikes. Each component in an electrical circuit, like a light or a switch, requires a specific voltage.
Why are the resistors on the positive side of the led?
If the LEDs are on the more positive side of the resistor, accidentally shorting the cathode of the LED to ground will result in a fried LED. Sometimes it’s not possible to have the resistors nearest +V, as when wiring up a common anode 7-segment LED display. But, with something like dashboard trouble lights, that’s not much of a concern.
Is the current the same on both sides of a resistor?
It depends if current is moving from negative to positive or positive to negative. (Sorry, it was another thread…) In reality, no, it doesn’t matter which side the resistor is on. The two components together make up a Series Circuit, and current is the same at all points, but voltage changes.
What happens if you put resistor on positive cable?
If you put a resistor (say for an LED) on the positive cable then a short of the wire to the chassis will draw limited current. If you put the resistor on the return wire then a short to the chassis would blow a fuse or burn the wire up if it is not fused. A short on the return wire to the chassis will have almost no effect.
What is the purpose of a resistor in a circuit?
If it’s a simple circuit with a load and a resistor in series, connected to a voltage source (such as a battery), then it makes no difference which side you put it. The purpose of the resistor is to resist the flow of electrons, reducing the current that flows.