In a linear electronic voltage regulator, how is the conduction of a control element varied?

In a linear electronic voltage regulator, the conduction of the control element is varied in direct proportion to line voltage or load current. This occurs because the regulator needs to maintain a steady output voltage despite changes in input voltage or output load.

When the load current increases, the control element adjusts its conduction to maintain the desired output voltage. If the line voltage changes, the control element also modifies its conduction according to the new input conditions. This feedback mechanism is crucial for ensuring that the output voltage remains constant, fulfilling the regulator's primary function.

The other aspects can lead to misunderstandings about how linear regulators function. For instance, the idea of inverse conductivity with load current would contradict the operational principle of a regulator, which is aimed at providing stable output even under variable load conditions. Random conduction could lead to instability and is not a characteristic of linear voltage regulators, and being independent from line voltage and load would negate the purpose of regulating voltage at all. Thus, the correct answer effectively captures the essential relationship between the control element and both line voltage and load current in a linear voltage regulator.