A resistive divider, also known as a voltage divider, is a simple electronic circuit used to divide a voltage into smaller parts using resistors. It consists of two or more resistors connected in series across a voltage source, and the output is taken from the connection point between the resistors.
The purpose of a resistive divider is to obtain a fraction of the input voltage at the output. The output voltage is determined by the ratio of the resistances in the circuit. The formula for calculating the output voltage in a resistive divider is as follows:
Vout = Vin * (R2 / (R1 + R2))
Where:
Vout is the output voltage across the second resistor (R2).
Vin is the input voltage applied across the entire voltage divider circuit.
R1 and R2 are the resistance values of the two resistors used in the voltage divider.
Here's a brief explanation of how it works:
When an input voltage (Vin) is applied across the resistive divider, a current flows through both resistors (R1 and R2) since they are connected in series.
The voltage drop across the first resistor (R1) is equal to the current flowing through it multiplied by its resistance (V1 = I * R1).
The voltage drop across the second resistor (R2) is similarly given by V2 = I * R2.
The total voltage drop across both resistors (V1 + V2) is equal to the input voltage (Vin).
By rearranging the above equations and solving for Vout, we get the voltage at the output:
Vout = Vin * (R2 / (R1 + R2))
The output voltage can be adjusted by changing the values of the resistors in the voltage divider circuit. By selecting appropriate resistor values, the voltage divider can be used in various applications, such as providing a reference voltage, setting bias points, or scaling down voltages for measurement purposes in electronic circuits.