Very silly question about pots, but I would still love an answer

[Ghost Planet]

I have a question about pots. What does the different values mean?
I understand the concept of resistance, and that pots a variable resistors. Does
a 10k pot mean that there is still 10k resistance
When it is at least resistance or fully "open"?. Or does the 10k describe the
Spectrum which is covers. Thanks.

[thelonious]

Does a 10k pot mean that there is still 10k resistance
When it is at least resistance or fully "open"?. Or does the 10k describe the
Spectrum which is covers. Thanks.

There are no silly questions...
10k is the maximum resistance. The least resistance of most pots will be close to 0 Ohms (no resistance). The range of a 10k pot is from 0 Ohms to 10,000 Ohms.

[Ghost Planet]

Ok so when it's turned down completely there is 10k resistance. Thank you so much.

[J0K3RX]

Ok so when it's turned down completely there is 10k resistance. Thank you so much.

depends on which way you read it..

If you hold the pot with the shaft pointing towards you the lug on the left is 1, the middle is 2 and the right is 3

between lugs 1 and 2 will read 0 or close to it when turned all the way down or to the left and between lugs 1 and 2 will read 10k when turned all the way to the right.

It will read the opposite between lugs 2 and 3

and between lugs 1 and 3 it will always be 10k

http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/Pots/

[armdnrdy]

More good reading sure to make you a major pot head! 

http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/potsecrets/potscret.htm
http://sound.westhost.com/pots.htm

[LucifersTrip]

pots have worse error specs that many resistors.

for instance my 200K Alpha pots measure between 175 and 185K.  7.5 - 15% error