What is the colour of the third band of a coded resistor of resistance \( 3.2 \times 10^{3}\,\Omega \)?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Red
In the colour code of a carbon resistor, the first two bands give the first two significant digits and the third band gives the power of ten (the multiplier). The digits are: black 0, brown 1, red 2, orange 3, yellow 4, green 5, blue 6, violet 7, grey 8, white 9.
Write the resistance with two significant digits:
\( \displaystyle 3.2\times10^{3}\,\Omega = 32\times10^{2}\,\Omega \)
\( \text{first band: } 3 \rightarrow \text{orange} \)
\( \text{second band: } 2 \rightarrow \text{red} \)
\( \text{third band: } 10^{2} \rightarrow \text{red} \)
So the third band is red.
Note: This question is from the pre-rationalised NCERT book (2022-23). The topic was removed from the latest NCERT book (2026-27), and it also appears to be out of the CUET 2026 syllabus.
NCERT (Pre-rationalised edition, 2022-23):
Resistivity of Various Materials – …
