potentiometern.
/pəˌtɛnʃɪˈɒmᵻtə/, U.S. /pəˌtɛn(t)ʃiˈɑmədər/ Science.
1. A device for measuring potential difference or an electromotive force by balancing it against a variable potential difference of known value produced by passing a known (usually fixed) current through a known (usually variable) resistance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > voltage > electrical potential > [noun] > measurement of > instrument for
potentiometer1868
pot1943
1868 J. L. Clark Elem. Treat. Electr. Measurem. 109 The potentiometer last described is admirably suited for the measurement of potential, and has been used for tensions as high as 200 cells Daniell.
1881 Nature 21 Apr. 582 The electrometer or potentiometer method, in which the difference of potential between two points in the circuit with a given resistance between them is directly measured.
1906 Athenæum 27 Oct. 517/3 The various methods of measuring resistances and a description of the uses of the potentiometer.
1922 R. Glazebrook Dict. Appl. Physics II. 611/2 A Weston cell having an E.M.F. of 1·0183 volts would be balanced across 10 coils and 0·183 of the total length of the slide wire, the pressure drop across each coil of the potentiometer being then 0·1 volt.
1935 H. C. Turner & E. H. W. Banner Electr. Measurem. xi. 127 The Crompton type is one of the most widely used potentiometers; in this, instead of a continuous slide wire covering the whole voltage range, resistance coils are used with a selector switch.
1975 D. G. Fink Electronics Engineers' Handbk. xvii. 6 The constant-resistance potentiometer..uses a variable current through a fixed resistance to generate a voltage for obtaining a null with the unknown emf.
2005 Jrnl. Electroanalytical Chem. 580 474/2 The pH of the solutions was measured with a glass electrode and a potentiometer.
2. A similar device used as a voltage divider or rheostat to produce a variable or known potential difference.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrical engineering > controlling device or process > [noun] > rheostat
rheostat1843
potentiometer1888
1888 Philos. Trans. 1887 (Royal Soc.) B. 178 232 Any electrical inequality between the two led-off points was compensated in the usual manner by means of a Sanderson's potentiometer.
1910 G. W. Pierce Princ. Wireless Telegr. xxvii. 324 The accurate adjustment of the local voltage is achieved by the use of a potentiometer.
1955 Sci. Amer. Aug. 96/2 Connect the power supply to the solution through the carbon electrodes and adjust the potentiometer or tapped resistor to the prescribed potential of 200 volts.
1979 Sci. Digest July 35/1 When potentiometer controls are used with microprocessor games the analog voltage due to the potentiometer must be converted into a digital quantity.
1996 J. R. Sawusch in N. J. Lass Princ. Exper. Phonetics xv. 528 The subject is given control over the stimulus intensity, perhaps by adjusting a potentiometer, or volume control.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1868