A current divider circuit is an electrical circuit configuration that is used to split an input current into multiple branches, allowing a portion of the current to flow through each branch. It consists of resistive elements connected in parallel to the input current source. Each branch has its own resistor, and the current flowing through each branch is determined by the resistance value of that branch.
The ability of a current divider circuit to split current is based on the principle of Ohm's law, which states that the current (I) flowing through a resistor is equal to the voltage (V) across the resistor divided by its resistance (R):
I = V / R
In a current divider circuit, the voltage across each resistor is the same since they are connected in parallel to the same source. Therefore, the current in each branch is determined solely by the resistance of that branch.
The current through each branch can be calculated using the following formula:
I(branch) = I(input) * (R(input) / R(branch))
where:
I(branch) is the current flowing through a specific branch.
I(input) is the total input current.
R(input) is the total resistance of the parallel combination of all resistors in the circuit.
R(branch) is the resistance of the specific branch.
As you can see from the formula, the current in each branch is inversely proportional to its resistance. A lower resistance value in a branch will result in a larger current through that branch, while a higher resistance will lead to a smaller current. Therefore, the current divider circuit effectively divides the total input current into smaller currents flowing through each branch based on the resistance values.
Current divider circuits have various practical applications, such as in electronics, electrical engineering, and telecommunications, where they are used to supply different components with appropriate currents and ensure that each component receives the required power without overloading any part of the circuit.