BasicB-004-006-003
On a resistor with four colour bands, what does the fourth colour band indicate?
B
Answer
Components and circuits
Type
A
The resistance material
B
The resistance tolerance in percent
C
The power rating in watts
D
The value of the resistor in ohms
Answer Notes
On a four-band resistor, the fourth colour band indicates the manufacturing tolerance. This band is usually spaced slightly apart from the first three to help you read the code in the correct direction.
Tolerance tells you how much the actual, physical resistance might vary from the calculated nominal value, expressed as a percentage. Common examples include a gold band for +/- 5% tolerance and a silver band for +/- 10%.
Distractors like power rating or resistance material are incorrect because they are not represented in the standard four-band colour code.
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On a resistor with four colour bands, what do the first three colour bands indicate?
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What are the possible values of a 100-ohm resistor with a 10% tolerance?