Resistive Voltage Divider Experiment

Objective

To understand the concept of resistive voltage division and measure the output voltage across a resistor in a resistive voltage divider circuit.

Theory

A resistive voltage divider uses two resistors in series to divide the input voltage into smaller output voltages. The output voltage across one of the resistors is proportional to its resistance and inversely proportional to the total resistance in the series circuit.

The formula for the output voltage (\( V_{out} \)) across the second resistor (\( R_2 \)) in a resistive divider is:

V_{out} = V_{in} * (R_2 / (R_1 + R_2))

Where:

• \( V_{in} \) = Input voltage
• \( R_1 \) = Resistance of the first resistor
• \( R_2 \) = Resistance of the second resistor

Components Required

• Resistor \( R_1 \) (e.g., 1 kΩ)
• Resistor \( R_2 \) (e.g., 2 kΩ)
• Power supply (DC voltage source)
• Multimeter (to measure voltage)
• Connecting wires
• Breadboard (optional)

Circuit Diagram

Below is the circuit diagram for the resistive voltage divider:

In this diagram:

• The input voltage (\( V_{in} \)) is applied across the series combination of \( R_1 \) and \( R_2 \).
• The output voltage (\( V_{out} \)) is measured across \( R_2 \).

Procedure

1. Set up the circuit on a breadboard according to the circuit diagram.
2. Connect the power supply to provide a DC input voltage (e.g., 5V).
3. Connect the multimeter probes across \( R_2 \) to measure \( V_{out} \).
4. Turn on the power supply and observe the voltage reading on the multimeter.
5. Record the measured \( V_{out} \) and compare it with the calculated value using the formula provided.
6. Repeat the experiment with different values of \( R_1 \) and \( R_2 \) and note the results.

Results

Document your findings in a table format:

Conclusion

The experiment demonstrates the principle of voltage division using resistors. By changing the resistance values, the output voltage across the resistors can be manipulated as desired. This principle is widely used in various electronic applications, including sensor circuits and signal conditioning.