Name: ____________________________

5 The Voltage Divider

Date: _____________________________
Class: _____________________________

Objectives:

After performing this experiment, you will be able to:

(i) Apply the voltage divider rule to series resistive circuits;

(ii) Design a voltage divider to meet a specific voltage output;

Relevant Theory:

A voltage divider consists of two or more resistors connected in series with a voltage source.
Voltage dividers are used to obtain a smaller voltage from a larger source voltage. If you have
two equal resistors in series, the voltage across each will be one-half of the source voltage. the
voltage thus has been divided between the two resistors. The idea can be extended to circuits
with more than two resistors and with different values.

Consider the series circuit illustrated in Figure 1. If the resistors are equal, the voltage across 𝑅
will be one-half the source voltage. But what happens if one of the resistors is larger than the
other? Since both resistors must have the same current, Ohm’s law tells us that the larger resistor
must drop a larger voltage. In fact, the voltage across any resistor in a series circuit can be found
by finding the fraction of the total resistance represented by the resistor in question. For example,
if a series resistor represents one-third of the total resistance, the voltage across it will be one-
third on the source voltage.

To find the voltage across 𝑅 , the ratio of 𝑅 to 𝑅 is multiplied by the source voltage. That is:

Figure 1

The voltage divider formula can be extended to find the voltage in a series circuit between any
number of resistors. Call the resistance that is between the output terminals 𝑅 . Then the voltage
across this resistance can be written:
𝑅
𝑉 =𝑉
𝑅
This equation is a general form of the voltage divider equation. It can be stated as: the output
voltage from a voltage divider is equal to the input voltage multiplied by the ratio of the resistance between
 Name: ____________________________

5 The Voltage Divider

Date: _____________________________
Class: _____________________________

the output terminals to the total resistance. When several resistors are used, the output is generally
taken with respect to the ground reference for the divider as shown in Figure 2. In this case, the
output voltage can be found by substituting the value of 𝑅 and 𝑅 for 𝑅 as shown.

Figure 2

Voltage dividers can be made to obtain variable voltages by using a potentiometer. The full range
of the input voltage is available at the output as illustrated in Figure 3(a). If one desires to limit
the output voltage, this can be done by using a fixed resistor in series as illustrated in Figure 3(b).

Figure 3

Materials Needed:

Resistors: 330 Ω, 470 Ω, 680 Ω, and 1.0 𝑘Ω

Potentiometer: 1.0 𝑘Ω
 Name: ____________________________

5 The Voltage Divider

Date: _____________________________
Class: _____________________________

Diagram:

Figure 4

Procedure:

1. Obtain the resistors listed in Table 1. Measure each

resistor and record the measured value in Table 1,
column 3. Compute the total resistance for a series
connection by adding the measured values. Enter the
computed total resistance in Table 1.
2. Connect the resistors in the series circuit illustrated in
Figure 4. With the power off, measure the total
resistance of the series connection and verify that it
agrees with your computed value.
3. Apply the voltage divider rule to each resistor, one at
a time, to compute the expected voltage across that
resistor. Use the measured values of resistance and a
source voltage of +10 𝑉. Record the computed
voltages (𝑉 ) in Table 1, column 4.
4. Turn on the power and measure the voltage across
each resistor. Record the measured voltage drops in Table 1, column 5. Your measured
voltages should agree with your computed values.
5. Observe the voltages measured in step 4. In the space provided, draw the voltage divider,
showing how you could obtain an output of 6.8 𝑉.
6. Using the 330 Ω, 680 Ω, and 1.0 𝑘Ω resistors, design a voltage divider with a +5.0 𝑉output
from a source voltage of +10 𝑉. Draw your design in the space provided.
7. Construct the circuit you designed and measure the actual output voltage. indicate the
measured value on your drawing.
8. Use two resistors from this experiment to design a divider with a +10 𝑉 input and a 7.5 𝑉
output. Draw your design in the space provided.
 Name: ____________________________

5 The Voltage Divider

Date: _____________________________
Class: _____________________________

9. The circuit shown in Figure 3(b) uses a 1.0 𝑘Ω potentiometer and 𝑅 and 𝑅 to limit the
range of voltages. Assume 𝑉 is +10 𝑉. Use the voltage divider formula to compute the
maximum and minimum voltages available from this circuit:

𝑉 = ________________ 𝑉 = ___________
10. Construct the circuit computed in step 9. Measure the minimum and maximum output
voltages:

𝑉 = ________________ 𝑉 = ___________

Observations:

Measured 𝑹𝒙
Resistor Listed Value 𝑽𝒙 = 𝑽𝒔 𝑽𝒙 (Measured)
Value 𝑹𝑻
𝑅 330 Ω
𝑅 470 Ω
𝑅 680 Ω
𝑅 1000 Ω
Total 10.0 𝑉
Table 1

Discussion:

1. (a) If all the resistors in Figure 4 were 10 times larger than the specified values, what would
happen to the output voltage?

(b) What would happen to the power dissipated in the voltage divider?
 Name: ____________________________

5 The Voltage Divider

Date: _____________________________
Class: _____________________________

2. Refer to Figure 3(b). Assume 𝑉 is 10.0 𝑉.

(a) If 𝑅 is open, what is the output voltage?

(b) If 𝑅 is open, what is the output voltage?

Conclusion: