Variable resistors ranging from 1/2 to 2 watts are called what?

The correct term for variable resistors that manage power ratings typically ranging from 1/2 to 2 watts is potentiometers. Potentiometers are a type of adjustable resistor used to control electrical devices by varying the resistance. They consist of three terminals: two connected to a resistive element and a third that connects to a movable wiper that taps at any point along the resistive path. This design allows the user to adjust the voltage output or current flow easily within a circuit.

While both potentiometers and rheostats serve as variable resistors, the key distinction is that potentiometers usually have three terminals and are primarily used for lower-power applications such as volume controls and tuning circuits. In contrast, rheostats are typically used in higher power applications and often have only two terminals. Resistors, on the other hand, are fixed resistive components without adjustability, and electrometers are devices used to measure electric charge or discharge and are not related to variable resistors.