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The potential divider circuit is used to reduce voltage levels in a circuit. The output voltage produced by the potential divider is a fixed ratio of its input and it is given by:
Vout = Vin x R2 /(R1 + R2)
It is, however, important to note that the output voltage (Vout) will fall when load current is drawn from the circuit arrangement. The reason for this is that the resistance of any load connected to the output of the potential divider will appear in parallel with R2 and this will effectively reduce the value of the lower resistor of the potential divider and consequently it will also reduce the voltage drop produced across it.
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