In a typical automotive circuit, which of the following items could be a resistive load?

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Multiple Choice

In a typical automotive circuit, which of the following items could be a resistive load?

Resistive loads convert electrical energy directly into heat (or light) with a fairly constant resistance that follows Ohm’s law. In a typical car circuit, a stereo or radio consumes power from the battery to operate, and its circuitry draws current and dissipates some energy as heat while performing its function, so it behaves as a resistive load. A fuse isn’t a load—it’s a protective device; the alternator is a power source; and a capacitor stores energy and presents a reactive, not resistive, load (it charges and then blocks DC). So the stereo or radio is the item that can be a resistive load.

Resistive loads convert electrical energy directly into heat (or light) with a fairly constant resistance that follows Ohm’s law. In a typical car circuit, a stereo or radio consumes power from the battery to operate, and its circuitry draws current and dissipates some energy as heat while performing its function, so it behaves as a resistive load. A fuse isn’t a load—it’s a protective device; the alternator is a power source; and a capacitor stores energy and presents a reactive, not resistive, load (it charges and then blocks DC). So the stereo or radio is the item that can be a resistive load.

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