Air said:On reviewing the chapter on resistivity, I have come across a principle involving potential dividers. Can someone explain the purpose of this tool?
I think it is to vary the voltage so at one terminal the voltage is max and the other end it is zero.
A potential divider, also known as a voltage divider, is a basic electronic circuit that divides a voltage into smaller parts. It is made up of two or more resistors connected in series.
The purpose of a potential divider is to produce a specific output voltage that is a fraction of the input voltage. It is commonly used in electronic devices to regulate voltage levels, reduce power consumption, and control signal strength.
A potential divider works by dividing the input voltage between the resistors based on their individual resistance values. The output voltage is determined by the ratio of the resistances in the circuit. The higher the resistance of a resistor, the more voltage it will drop.
Potential dividers are used in a wide range of electronic devices, including voltage regulators, sensors, and signal amplifiers. They are also commonly used in electronic circuits to bias transistors and provide reference voltages for analog-to-digital converters.
The output voltage of a potential divider is affected by the resistance values of the resistors, the input voltage, and the load connected to the output. Changes in any of these factors can alter the output voltage of the circuit.