1. What is a Resistive Voltage Divider?

Definition: A voltage divider is a simple circuit that converts a large voltage into a smaller one using two resistors in series.

Purpose: It's commonly used in electronics to create reference voltages, reduce voltage levels for measurement, or interface between different voltage circuits.

2. How Does the Voltage Divider Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( V_{out} \) — Output voltage (volts)
• \( V_{in} \) — Input voltage (volts)
• \( R1 \) — First resistor (ohms)
• \( R2 \) — Second resistor (ohms)

Explanation: The output voltage is a fraction of the input voltage, determined by the ratio of R2 to the total resistance (R1 + R2).

3. Importance of Voltage Dividers

Details: Voltage dividers are fundamental in circuit design, used in sensor interfaces, biasing transistors, creating reference voltages, and signal conditioning.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the input voltage and both resistor values. All values must be positive numbers. The output voltage will always be less than the input voltage.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens if R1 is much larger than R2?
A: The output voltage will be very small, approaching 0V as R1 increases relative to R2.

Q2: What if R2 is much larger than R1?
A: The output voltage will approach the input voltage as R2 increases relative to R1.

Q3: Does the divider consume power?
A: Yes, the divider constantly draws current equal to V_in/(R1+R2), so choose appropriate resistor values for your power requirements.

Q4: What about load effects?
A: This calculator shows the unloaded voltage. Adding a load in parallel with R2 will change the output voltage - the load resistance becomes part of the calculation.

Q5: What are typical resistor values?
A: Common values range from 1kΩ to 100kΩ, depending on the desired current draw and application requirements.