Prepare for the Automotive Service Technician Period 1 exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a resistive load in a car's electrical system?

A resistive load is something that mainly converts electrical energy directly into heat or light, with the current drawn from the supply being in phase with the voltage. The radio, when connected to the car’s 12-volt system, presents an input impedance that is largely determined by its electronic circuitry, causing a steady current draw that resembles a simple resistive load. It doesn’t rely on building a magnetic field or storing energy in the way a motor does, so it behaves more like a resistor in the DC sense. In contrast, a starter motor uses coils and magnets to create motion, which is an inductive behavior, and a battery is a power source rather than a load.

A resistive load is something that mainly converts electrical energy directly into heat or light, with the current drawn from the supply being in phase with the voltage. The radio, when connected to the car’s 12-volt system, presents an input impedance that is largely determined by its electronic circuitry, causing a steady current draw that resembles a simple resistive load. It doesn’t rely on building a magnetic field or storing energy in the way a motor does, so it behaves more like a resistor in the DC sense. In contrast, a starter motor uses coils and magnets to create motion, which is an inductive behavior, and a battery is a power source rather than a load.