Understanding Voltage Dividers
A voltage divider is a simple circuit that converts a higher voltage into a lower one using two resistors
in series. The output voltage is a fraction of the input voltage, determined by the ratio of the two
resistors.
The formula for the output voltage in a voltage divider is:
\[ V_{out} = V_{in} \times \frac{R_2}{R_1 + R_2} \]
Where:
- \(V_{in}\) is the input voltage (V)
- \(V_{out}\) is the output voltage (V)
- \(R_1\) is the resistance of the first resistor (Ω)
- \(R_2\) is the resistance of the second resistor (Ω)
Example Calculations
Example 1:
If \(V_{in} = 12V\), \(R_1 = 10kΩ\), and \(R_2 = 5kΩ\):
\[
V_{out} = 12 \times \frac{5000}{10000 + 5000} = 4V
\]
Example 2:
If \(V_{in} = 9V\), \(R_1 = 2kΩ\), and \(R_2 = 1kΩ\):
\[
V_{out} = 9 \times \frac{1000}{2000 + 1000} = 3V
\]
