Resistor Colour Code – Meaning of a Silver Third Band In the colour-coding scheme for carbon (composition/film) resistors, if the third band (the multiplier band) is silver, what does it indicate for the resistance value?

Introduction / Context:
The resistor colour code is a compact way to print resistance values and tolerances on small components. In the common 4-band code, the first two bands give the significant figures, the third band is the multiplier, and the fourth band is the tolerance. Understanding the special meanings of gold and silver in the multiplier position is essential, because unlike other colours (which multiply by powers of 10^+n), these indicate fractional multipliers (10^-1 and 10^-2).

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Carbon resistor using the standard colour code.
• Third band (multiplier band) is silver.
• We are asked to interpret the resistance value effect, not tolerance (unless the fourth band is specified).

Concept / Approach:

In the 4-band code: band 1 = first significant digit, band 2 = second significant digit, band 3 = multiplier, band 4 = tolerance. Multipliers map colours to powers of ten. Notably, gold corresponds to 10^-1 (0.1) and silver corresponds to 10^-2 (0.01). Thus a silver multiplier reduces the two-digit number by a factor of 100. Tolerance is read from the fourth band (e.g., gold ±5%, silver ±10%); the third band never indicates tolerance in a 4-band code.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Compare with gold in the multiplier position: gold → 10^-1 (0.1). This confirms that precious-metal colours in the multiplier band represent fractional powers of ten, with silver being 10^-2.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Tolerance ±5% refers to a gold fourth band, not a multiplier.
• Multiplier 0.1 corresponds to gold, not silver.
• “Three zeros appended” corresponds to orange as multiplier (10^3), not silver.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing the third and fourth bands; assuming silver always means ±10% (only true when silver is the tolerance band, i.e., the fourth band).

Final Answer:

Multiplier is 0.01