Noise in Resistors

 

There are various types of noise generated from resistors:

• Thermal Noise
• Contact Noise
• Shot Noise

Thermal noise is predominant noise in resistors. Contact noise is due to the internal construction and depends on the type of resistor package. In the case of potentiometers, the contact creates the noise. Shot noise is due to the random fluctuation of the current flowing through the resistor. Considering, all the three noise types, we can understand that designer has to live with thermal noise but based on the resistors and application contact noise and shot noise may not be present.