What does a potentiometer specifically control?

A potentiometer is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. Its primary function is to control voltage. When you adjust the potentiometer, you change the resistance in the output circuit, which alters the voltage that is delivered to the load.

In a typical application, the potentiometer connects to a voltage source at one end, and the other end is connected to ground. As you move the wiper (the adjustable contact), the voltage across the load changes according to the position of the wiper, resulting in a variable output voltage. This ability to adjust and control voltage makes potentiometers essential in various electronic devices for applications such as volume control in audio equipment or brightness control in displays.

While a potentiometer can influence current and indirectly affect power through Ohm’s law (V = IR), its primary role is to control the voltage across a given component rather than directly managing resistance, current, or power.