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The Potential Divider

The Potential Divider
  • At its simplest, a potential divider is a circuit with a voltage source and a couple of resistors in series. The potential difference across the voltage source (e.g. a battery) is split across the resistors in the ratio of the resistances.
  • You can use potential dividers to supply a potential difference, \(V_{\text{out}}\) between zero and the potential difference across the power supply.
  • This can be useful, e.g. if you need a varying p.d. supply (see next page) or one that is at a lower p.d. than the power supply.
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