<^< Potential Dividers | Course Index | Current Divider >^>
| Objective:
| To investigate the action of a potential divider circuit.
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| Underpinning knowledge:
| Resistance. Resistors in series. Kirchhoff's Voltage Law.
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| Apparatus:
| TINA circuit file, or apparatus to make the following circuit.
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| TINA Circuit File:
| Click here to download circuit file
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| Initial Settings:
| R1 = 4kΩ, R2 = 1kΩ.
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| Requires:
| Paper, Linear graph paper, pen or pencil.
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| Instructions:
(a) Using initial settings verify that VOUT = VIN x R2/(R1+R2).
(b) Change R1 to 2kΩ and R2 to 3kΩ.
(c) Again check that VOUT = VIN x R2/(R1+R2).
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Observations:
Confirm that, in each case, the output voltage is the input voltage multiplied by the ratio of R2 to (R1 + R2).
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| Further work:
(a) Devise a potential divider arrangement that would draw a current of 10mA from a 15V supply and produce an output voltage of precisely 5V. Check your answer using your circuit simulation package
(b) The output voltage produced by a potential divider arrangement will fall when the circuit is loaded (i.e. when current is drawn away from the circuit into a load resistance connected to it). Investigate the effect on the output voltage of your potential divider when connected to load resistance's of 50kΩ, 10kΩ, 5kΩ, 1kΩ and 500Ω.
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<^< Potential Dividers | Course index | Current Divider >^>
