Potential Dividers

(a) Candidates should be able to show an understanding that an electronic sensor consists of a
sensing device and a circuit that provides an output voltage.

Electronic sensors have many different applications in modern-day life. Frequently we take these
sensors for granted. For example, the small red indicator lamp fitted to an electrical appliance that
glows when the mains supply has been switched on. Other sensor circuits are more sophisticated and
could, for example indicate a temperature or a light intensity level.
An electronic sensor consists of a sensing device and, usually, some form of electrical circuit connected
to it. The sensing device could be for example, a light-dependent resistor (LDR) so that light
intensity may be monitored or a strain gauge so that the strain experienced by a sample of material
may be measured. The sensing device changes one of its physical properties (e.g.
resistance) with a change in whatever is to be monitored.
In order that the information gathered by the sensing device may be communicated, the change in its
physical property must be processed so that an output device will indicate this change. This output
device could be, for example, a simple indicator lamp or a digital meter. The output device will respond
to a change in voltage. Consequently, the sensing device is connected to the output device via an
electrical circuit (a processing unit) that will provide a voltage as its output. This is illustrated in Fig. 1.1.

sensing processing output

device unit device

Fig. 1.1
(b) Candidates should be able to show an understanding that the output from sensing devices can
be registered as a voltage.
In (a), it was stated that a sensing device is usually connected to an electrical circuit. This circuit
is designed to provide a voltage that will control an output device.
Where a sensing device gives rise to a change in resistance, this change in resistance can be
converted into a voltage change using a potential divider, as shown in Fig. 1.6.

sensing
device, output V
resistance R

Fig. 1.6

The cell of e.m.f. E and negligible internal resistance is connected in series with a fixed resistor of
resistance F and the sensing device of resistance R. The output voltage V is given by
R
V= E.
F +R
The magnitude of the output voltage V at any particular value of resistance R of the sensing device is
dependent on the relative values of R and F. A change in R will give rise to a change in V. If the
resistance R decreases, then the output V will also decrease. However, connecting the output across
the fixed resistor would mean that V increases when R decreases.
Potential Divider

Continued in next slide...

Potential Divider
(continued from previous slide)
Application of Potential Divider circuits
Application of Potential Divider circuits