Can You Decode Resistor Color Codes?

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  • 1/9 Questions

    The electrical component that is designed to resist the flow of the current?

    • Insulators
    • Resistors
    • Conductors
    • None of the above
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About This Quiz

How much do you know about the resistor color codes? Can you decode resistor color codes? This quiz will test your ability to decode a resistor's color code and calculate the resistance and tolerance of a resistor. This skill is needed by technicians, engineers, and some hobbyists. If you are one of them, the quiz will be helpful to you. Let's see if you can answer all the given questions correctly! We challenge you to get a good score; can you do it? Take our quiz & have fun!

Can You Decode Resistor Color Codes? - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    How is a fully functional 3.9 k ohms resistor color coded?

    • Red, green, orange, silver

    • Orange, green, orange, silver

    • Red, white, red, gold

    • Orange, white, red, gold

    Correct Answer
    A. Orange, white, red, gold
    Explanation
    The color code for a 3.9 k ohms resistor is orange, white, red, gold. The first band, orange, represents the digit 3. The second band, white, represents the digit 9. The third band, red, represents the multiplier 100. Therefore, the resistance value is calculated as (39 x 100) = 3,900 ohms, which is equivalent to 3.9 k ohms. The fourth band, gold, represents the tolerance of the resistor, indicating that the actual resistance can vary by +/- 5%.

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  • 3. 

    The resistor has 4 bands. Red, Green, Blue, Gold Which answer is correct?

    • 25K Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 2.5K Ohm tolerance range

    • 25M Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 2.5M Ohm tolerance range

    • 6.5k Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 650 Ohm tolerance range

    • 2500 Ohms with a 10% Tolerance and a 500 Ohm tolerance range

    • 25M Ohms with a 10% Tolerance and a 5M Ohm tolerance range

    Correct Answer
    A. 25M Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 2.5M Ohm tolerance range
    Explanation
    The correct answer is 25M Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 2.5M Ohm tolerance range. This is because the resistor has 4 bands, and the color code for the first three bands (Red, Green, Blue) corresponds to the value of 25M Ohms. The fourth band (Gold) indicates a tolerance of 5%, meaning the actual resistance value can vary within 5% of the stated value. The 2.5M Ohm tolerance range indicates that the resistance can vary by +/- 2.5M Ohms.

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  • 4. 

    The resistor has 4 bands. Brown, Back, Red, Gold Which answer is correct?

    • 100 Ohms with a 1% Tolerance and a 2 Ohm tolerance range

    • 1000 Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 100 Ohm tolerance range

    • 10k Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 1K Ohm tolerance range

    • 1000 Ohms with a 10% Tolerance and a 200 Ohm tolerance range

    • 100 Ohms with a 20% Tolerance and a 40 Ohm tolerance range

    Correct Answer
    A. 1000 Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 100 Ohm tolerance range
    Explanation
    The given answer is correct because the resistor has a brown band as the first digit, which represents the number 1. The second band is black, representing the second digit 0. The third band is red, representing a multiplier of 100, and the fourth band is gold, representing a tolerance of 5%. Therefore, the resistor value is 1000 Ohms with a 5% tolerance. The tolerance range is calculated by multiplying the resistance value by the tolerance percentage, so in this case, the range is 100 Ohms.

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  • 5. 

    If the resistance of the system decreases, what happens to the current?

    • It stays the same

    • It decreases

    • It increases

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. It increases
    Explanation
    When the resistance of a system decreases, according to Ohm's Law (V = IR), the current increases. This is because as resistance decreases, there is less opposition to the flow of electric current. Therefore, more current can flow through the system.

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  • 6. 

    The resistor has 4 bands. Yellow, Brown, Brown, Gold Which answer is correct?

    • 110k Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 11k Ohm tolerance range

    • 410 Ohms with a 10% Tolerance and a 82 Ohm tolerance range

    • 110k Ohms with a 10% Tolerance and a 22k Ohm tolerance range

    • 4.1k Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 205 Ohm tolerance range

    • 410 Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 41 Ohm tolerance range

    Correct Answer
    A. 410 Ohms with a 10% Tolerance and a 82 Ohm tolerance range
    Explanation
    Resistors use a color-coding system to indicate their resistance value and tolerance. Each band on the resistor represents a specific digit or multiplier.
    First band: Yellow (4) - Represents the first significant digit.
    Second band: Brown (1) - Represents the second significant digit.
    Third band: Brown (1) - Represents the multiplier (10^1 = 10).
    Fourth band: Gold (5%) - Represents the tolerance.
    Therefore, the resistor has a value of 41 x 10 = 410 Ohms with a 5% tolerance.
    To calculate the tolerance range:
    Tolerance: 5% of 410 Ohms = 20.5 Ohms
    The actual resistance value can vary between:
    Lower limit: 410 Ohms - 20.5 Ohms = 389.5 Ohms
    Upper limit: 410 Ohms + 20.5 Ohms = 430.5 Ohms

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  • 7. 

    The resistor has 4 bands. Green, Blue, Red, Silver Which answer is correct?

    • 56K Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 2.5K Ohm tolerance range

    • 5.6K Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 560 Ohm tolerance range

    • 56K Ohms with a 10 Tolerance and a 11.2K Ohm tolerance range

    • 5.6K Ohms with a 10% Tolerance and a 1120 Ohm tolerance range

    • 560 Ohms with a 5% Tolerance and a 56 Ohm tolerance range

    Correct Answer
    A. 5.6K Ohms with a 10% Tolerance and a 1120 Ohm tolerance range
    Explanation
    The resistor has 4 bands, which means it is a 4-band resistor. The colors of the bands are green, blue, red, and silver. By decoding the colors using the resistor color code, we can determine the resistance value, tolerance, and tolerance range. The colors green, blue, and red correspond to the digits 5, 6, and 0, respectively. The silver band represents a multiplier of 0.01. Therefore, the resistance value is 56K Ohms (56000 Ohms). The green band indicates a tolerance of 5%, and the blue band indicates a multiplier of 10. Therefore, the correct answer is 5.6K Ohms with a 10% Tolerance and a 1120 Ohm tolerance range.

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  • 8. 

    What is the resistivity of copper?

    • 5.6x10-8

    • 2.65x10-8

    • 1.724x10-8

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. 1.724x10-8
    Explanation
    Copper exhibits a low electrical resistivity of 1.724x10-8. This small value reflects its exceptional conductivity, with abundant free electrons facilitating efficient flow of electric current. This property makes copper a vital material in various electrical applications, including wiring and conductors.

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  • 9. 

    What is the resistance value of a resistor with the following color bands: Red, Violet, Orange, Gold?

    • 270 ohms ± 5% 

    • 27,000 ohms ± 5% 

    • 2,700,000 ohms ± 5% 

    • 27 ohms ± 5%

    Correct Answer
    A. 27,000 ohms ± 5% 
    Explanation
    The resistor color code follows this pattern:
    1st band = 1st digit
    2nd band = 2nd digit
    3rd band = multiplier (as a power of 10)
    4th band = tolerance
    Given:
    Red = 2
    Violet = 7
    Orange = ×1,000
    Gold = ±5%
    So:
    Resistance = 27 × 1,000 = 27,000 ohms (or 27 kΩ) ±5%

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  • Current Version
  • Jun 25, 2025
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Jun 14, 2010
    Quiz Created by
    CharlieW
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