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Ballast facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A Ballast is a large resistor that regulates the amount of electrical current in a circuit. Most ballasts are used for fluorescent lamps to regulate the current thru it, which might rise to a dangerous level and burn it out.

Ballast is also crushed stone used in railway tracks. See ballast tamper.

Gallery

  • Magnetic Ballasts 1

    3 Magnetic Ballasts: the ballast on the top is a Rapid start ballast, while the lower two ballasts are preheat ballasts.

  • Fulham Workhorse 4 ballast

    Electronic 4 lamp Ballast

Images for kids

  • Ballast tank boat cross section

    Cross section of a vessel with a single ballast tank at the bottom

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Lastre para niños

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Ballast Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.