+5V ---- R1 (4kΩ) ----+---- R2 (1kΩ) ---- GND
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Vout
(1V)
Explanation:
- In this simple example, two resistors, R1 (4kΩ) and R2 (1kΩ), are connected in series between a 5V power supply and ground. Vout is measured at the junction between R1 and R2.
- A voltage divider is a basic circuit used to create a lower voltage from a higher voltage source. It works by splitting the input voltage across two resistors proportionally.
- The voltage divider formula:
The voltage divider formula is:
$$V_{out} = V_{in} \times \frac{R_2}{R_1 + R_2}$$
Substituting the values:
$$V_{out} = 5 \times \frac{1}{4 + 1} = 5 \times 0.2 = 1\,V$$
Therefore, the output voltage (Vout) at the junction is 1V.
Voltage dividers are commonly used in electronics to scale down voltages for sensors, microcontrollers, or analog-to-digital converters (ADCs).
For more detailed information about voltage dividers, you can check out this excellent guide on Quarktwin.