How does a potential divider work?

I've always thought that physics is best explained through analogies, and so instead of two resistors we'll imagine two people (our resistors) in Yo Sushi (where plates of sushi represent our voltage). Say the first person, person A, is twice as hungry as person B (A has twice the resistance of B) . This means that for every 3 plates, A will take 2 of them and B will take 1. We can imagine taking the voltage across A, which is counting the number of plates A has. It will always be 2/3 of the total number of plates. Similarly, looking at B will show 1/3 of the plates. A question often asked in exams is what is the voltage 'in between' A and B, a Vout placed between them. This is simply looking at the amount of sushi left on the conveyer belt after A has taken theirs. If A's taking 2/3 of it all, only 1/3 will be left and hence Vout = 1/3. By altering the ratios of the resistances (or how hungry person A is) you can change Vout and that is all there is to a potential divider.

Answered by Adi J. Physics tutor

2805 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

What do you understand by simple harmonic motion?


Compare and contrast elastic and inelastic collisions


What is the de Broglie wavelength? Why do we care?


The vehicle accelerates horizontally from rest to 27.8 m s–1 in a time of 4.6 s. The mass of the vehicle is 360 kg and the rider has a mass of 82 kg. 1. Calculate the average acceleration during the 4.6 s time interval.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences