What is a voltage divider in simple terms?
2 Answers
A voltage divider is a simple electrical circuit used to produce a lower voltage from a higher one. It's like a way to "divide" the total voltage into smaller parts. Here’s a straightforward breakdown of how it works:
1. **Basic Components**: The most common voltage divider consists of two resistors connected in series. This means one resistor is connected end-to-end with another resistor, forming a chain.
2. **Applying Voltage**: You connect a higher voltage source (like a battery) across the ends of this series connection of resistors. So, one end of the resistor chain is connected to the positive terminal of the battery, and the other end is connected to the negative terminal.
3. **Voltage Drop**: When the current flows through the resistors, it experiences a "drop" in voltage across each resistor. The amount of voltage drop across each resistor depends on its resistance value.
4. **Output Voltage**: You can tap into the voltage at the point between the two resistors. This is your “output voltage,” which will be lower than the input voltage. The exact value of this output voltage depends on the values of the resistors.
5. **Formula**: The output voltage (\( V_{out} \)) can be calculated using the formula:
\[
V_{out} = V_{in} \times \frac{R_2}{R_1 + R_2}
\]
Here, \( V_{in} \) is the input voltage, \( R_1 \) is the resistance of the first resistor, and \( R_2 \) is the resistance of the second resistor.
- **Example**: If you have a 10V battery and two resistors of 1kΩ and 2kΩ connected in series, the output voltage across the 2kΩ resistor (R2) will be:
\[
V_{out} = 10V \times \frac{2kΩ}{1kΩ + 2kΩ} = 10V \times \frac{2}{3} = 6.67V
\]
So, a voltage divider is a handy tool for getting a specific lower voltage from a higher one using just resistors. It’s widely used in various electronic circuits to set reference voltages or to adjust signal levels.
1. **Basic Components**: The most common voltage divider consists of two resistors connected in series. This means one resistor is connected end-to-end with another resistor, forming a chain.
2. **Applying Voltage**: You connect a higher voltage source (like a battery) across the ends of this series connection of resistors. So, one end of the resistor chain is connected to the positive terminal of the battery, and the other end is connected to the negative terminal.
3. **Voltage Drop**: When the current flows through the resistors, it experiences a "drop" in voltage across each resistor. The amount of voltage drop across each resistor depends on its resistance value.
4. **Output Voltage**: You can tap into the voltage at the point between the two resistors. This is your “output voltage,” which will be lower than the input voltage. The exact value of this output voltage depends on the values of the resistors.
5. **Formula**: The output voltage (\( V_{out} \)) can be calculated using the formula:
\[
V_{out} = V_{in} \times \frac{R_2}{R_1 + R_2}
\]
Here, \( V_{in} \) is the input voltage, \( R_1 \) is the resistance of the first resistor, and \( R_2 \) is the resistance of the second resistor.
- **Example**: If you have a 10V battery and two resistors of 1kΩ and 2kΩ connected in series, the output voltage across the 2kΩ resistor (R2) will be:
\[
V_{out} = 10V \times \frac{2kΩ}{1kΩ + 2kΩ} = 10V \times \frac{2}{3} = 6.67V
\]
So, a voltage divider is a handy tool for getting a specific lower voltage from a higher one using just resistors. It’s widely used in various electronic circuits to set reference voltages or to adjust signal levels.
A voltage divider is a simple circuit used to reduce a voltage to a lower level. It typically consists of two resistors connected in series. When you apply a voltage across the series combination, the output voltage taken from the junction of the two resistors is a fraction of the input voltage. The exact output voltage depends on the values of the resistors. It's a straightforward way to get a lower voltage from a higher one. Would you like to know how it works in more detail?