Lesson Worksheet: Using Potential Dividers Physics

In this worksheet, we will practice finding the output voltage of a potential divider and describing how potential dividers can be used in sensing circuits.

Q1:

What type of electronic component could be used instead of one of the resistors in a potential divider to create a light-sensing circuit?

  • AA fuse
  • BA light-dependent resistor
  • CA thermistor
  • DA diode
  • EAn LED

Q2:

Chloe creates the potential divider shown in the diagram. 𝑅 has a value of 30 Ω, and 𝑅 has a value of 90 Ω. What ratio of output voltage to input voltage does this produce?

Q3:

Isabella has a light bulb that requires a 12 V potential difference across it in order to work. She only has an 18 V battery to power it. Which of the following pairs of resistors can be used to create a potential divider to power the light bulb?

  • A200 Ω and 500 Ω
  • B8 kΩ and 6 kΩ
  • C12 kΩ and 2 kΩ
  • D48 Ω and 36 Ω
  • E10 kΩ and 5 kΩ

Q4:

A potential divider has an input voltage of 48 V. The resistance of the second resistor, 𝑅, is 100 kΩ. The output voltage is drawn across the second resistor, 𝑅. What resistance must the first resistor, 𝑅, have in order to produce an output voltage of 32 V?

Q5:

A potential divider has an input voltage of 36 V. The resistance of the first resistor, 𝑅, is 48 Ω. The output voltage is drawn across the second resistor, 𝑅. What resistance must the second resistor have in order to produce an output voltage of 18 V?

Q6:

A potential divider consists of two resistors, 𝑅 and 𝑅. The resistance of 𝑅 is 200 Ω, and the resistance of 𝑅 is 400 Ω. The output voltage is drawn across 𝑅. What input voltage is needed to produce an output voltage of 12 V?

Q7:

The diagram shows a circuit for a potential divider. The value of 𝑅 is 24 kΩ. The value of 𝑅 is 32 kΩ. What input voltage is needed to produce an output voltage of 8 V?

Q8:

The diagram shows a circuit for a potential divider. If the input voltage, 𝑉in, is 30 V, what value of 𝑅 is needed to produce an output voltage of 20 V?

Q9:

A potential divider has an input voltage of 24 V. The resistance of the first resistor, 𝑅, is 25 Ω. The resistance of the second resistor, 𝑅, is 75 Ω. The output voltage is drawn across the second resistor. What is the value of the output voltage?

Q10:

The diagram shows a circuit for a potential divider. If the input voltage is 12 V, what value of 𝑅 is needed to produce an output voltage of 4 V?

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