Which fixed resistor can withstand more heat than any other type of resistor?

• A. Wire-wound resistor
• B. Composition carbon resistor
• C. Metal film resistor
• D. Metal glaze resistor

Answer: (A)

Heat handling in fixed resistors comes down to how much power they are designed to dissipate and how effectively that heat can escape. Wire-wound resistors use a resistive wire wound on a ceramic core and are often built with a ceramic body or enclosed for good heat sinking. This design provides a large surface area and a solid heat path, letting them safely dissipate higher power levels and tolerate higher ambient temperatures than other fixed resistor types.

Carbon composition resistors, while rugged in some respects, have lower maximum power ratings and are more prone to thermal drift and aging under heat. Metal film resistors offer excellent precision and stability but are typically smaller and rated for modest power, usually fractions of a watt to a few watts. Metal glaze resistors, though resistant to high temperatures and suitable for some demanding conditions, generally don’t reach the same high power dissipation as wire-wound types.

So, the wire-wound resistor is the best choice when the goal is to withstand more heat than the others.