In electronics, when a resistor is connected in reverse bias, current typically does not flow through it in the conventional sense. Resistors are passive components that resist the flow of current, and their behavior does not change significantly based on the polarity of the voltage applied across them. Therefore, whether a resistor is connected in forward bias (positive to the anode, negative to the cathode) or reverse bias (positive to the cathode, negative to the anode) in a circuit, it does not conduct current in the same manner as active components like diodes or transistors.
In contrast, when a diode is reverse-biased, meaning the anode is connected to the negative side of the voltage source and the cathode to the positive side, ideally no current flows through it. This is because the reverse bias voltage causes the depletion region of the diode to widen, increasing its resistance to current flow. While a small leakage current may occur due to minority carriers, it is typically negligible in most practical applications. The primary function of a diode in reverse bias is to block current flow in the reverse direction, ensuring that the circuit operates correctly and prevents unintended current paths.
In terms of current flow through a resistor, current moves from the higher potential (positive voltage side) to the lower potential (negative voltage side) when the resistor is in forward bias. This flow is driven by the voltage difference across the resistor and obeys Ohm’s Law, where current (I) equals voltage (V) divided by resistance (R), expressed as I = V/R. In reverse bias, due to the nature of resistors as passive components with no intrinsic directionality for current flow, there is no significant current flow through them irrespective of the polarity of applied voltage.
The reason current stops flowing when a diode is reverse biased lies in the widening of the depletion region within the diode. In forward bias, the diode conducts current readily as the applied voltage reduces the depletion region’s width, allowing charge carriers to pass through. However, in reverse bias, the applied voltage increases the depletion region’s width, effectively raising the diode’s impedance and preventing significant current flow. This characteristic makes diodes useful for applications where controlling the direction of current flow is essential, such as rectifiers in power supplies and signal modulation in electronics circuits.