Potential Divider questions.

1. A potential divider consists of a 10k resistor in series with a 5k resistor and a

10V battery.
a. Draw a sketch of the circuit
b. Calculate the current in the circuit.
c. Calculate V1 and V2 in the circuit.
2. A potential divider consists of a 3k resistor in series with a 3.5k resistor and a
5V battery.
a. Draw a sketch of the circuit
b. Calculate V1 and V2 in the circuit.
3. A potential divider consists of a 3.0 resistor connected in series with a 6.0 , if
V2 =4V what is the value of V1?
4. A potential divider consists of two 4.0 resistors in parallel connected in series
with a 9.0 resistor and a battery of emf =10V.
a. Draw a sketch of this circuit.
b. Calculate the current in this circuit.
c. Calculate V1 and V2 in the circuit.
5. If a 3rd resistor (R3) was connected in series with the first two(R1 and R2) in the
circuit in Q4, what would this circuit look like?
a Calculate the value of V3
6V

100

50
A

6. A series circuit is connected as shown in the diagram. What is the potential

difference between A and B?
An additional resistor of 100 W is connected between the 50 W resistor and the
cells. What is the potential difference between A and B now?
The additional 100 W resistor is now connected in parallel with the first 100 W
resistor. What is the potential difference between A and B now?
7. A potential divider is made from a 4 kW and a 6 kW resistor connected in series
with a 20 V supply. Draw a diagram of the arrangement. What four values of
potential difference can be tapped off?
8. A student puts a 12 W variable resistor in series with a 6 V battery, expecting to
get a variable potential difference.

12
6V
V

9. The voltmeter is a high resistance digital multimeter. Explain why the circuit
won't work. Draw a circuit which would work.
10.

B is the wiper of a 100 W rotary potentiometer.

300
12 V
A

100

What is the full range of the potential difference that can be tapped off between
A and B?
Hints
Resistors are in the ratio 50 :100 so the potential difference splits up 1 : 2.
Work out the equivalent resistance of the two 100 W resistors in parallel first.
Find the pd set up across the potentiometer first by looking at the ratio of the
resistors.