The idea of a device that could be used to control the amount of electricity going to a component was thought by many people, but the carbon potentiometer we commonly use today was invented by Thomas Edison in 1872 at the age of 25. He called this device a "coiled resistance wire rheostat".

Who developed potentiometer?

Potentiometers are used to measure electromotive force (emf) by balancing it with a known emf. The concept was first developed in 1841 by J. C. Poggendorff and improved throughout the 19th century by Latimer Clark and J. A. Fleming.

Where is a potentiometer used in real life?

Potentiometers are commonly used to control electrical devices such as volume controls on audio equipment. Potentiometers operated by a mechanism can be used as position transducers, for example, in a joystick.