NAME: Oneika Stoute DATE: 30/04/23

SCHOOL: Trinity College East / Bishop Anstey High School East

SECTION 1: ELECTRICAL PRINCIPLES AND MEASUREMENT

ACTIVITY SHEET

Project Name: Voltage Divider Circuit

Context: Voltage divider circuits are one of the most fundamental circuits in electronics. It
is a simple circuit which turns a large voltage into a smaller one. Using just two
series resistors and an input voltage, an output voltage that is a fraction of the
input can be created.

Project: You are required to design and build an appropriate circuit than can be used to
verify the Voltage Divider Rule and illustrate the effects of a load on a voltage
divider circuit. The circuit should include the use of a SPST switch, fixed resistors
(1.2kΩ, 4.7kΩ), a potentiometer (10kΩ), multimeter and a D.C power supply
(10V).

Objectives: At the end of the exercise, you should be able to:

▪ Understand the voltage divider rule.

▪ Determine analytically the effects of a load on the voltage relationships in
a resistive voltage divider circuit.
▪ Confirm experimentally the results of a load on the voltage relationships
in a resistive voltage divider circuit.
▪ Connect a multimeter in a circuit to accurately measure voltage, current
and resistance
▪ Accurately record observations for each measured value

1
PROJECT DESIGN:

A circuit that includes an SPST switch, fixed resisters of value 1.2kΩ and 4.7Ω, a potentiometer

of value 10kΩ, a multimeter and a D.C power supply which produces 10V would be designed to

prove the Voltage Divider Rule and investigate how load effects a voltage divider circuit.

THEORY & RESEARCH:

1. Define Voltage Divider Rule and state its equation.

The voltage divider rule states that for a circuit that has two resistors that are in series, the

voltage drop across either resistor is given by the following equations: V1= (R1/ R1+R2) *Vt

Or V2= (R2/ R1+R2) *Vt

2. What type of circuit can the voltage divider rule be applied to?

The voltage divider rule can be applied to series circuits and series-parallel circuits.

3. Describe a practical use of the voltage divider rule.

The voltage divider rule can be used to reduce the voltage flowing through a part of the

circuit. This can allow for easier measuring of the value of voltage using a voltmeter or this

can prevent the circuit from blowing due to the resists reaching full capacity.

APPARATUS & MATERIALS:

Wires, SPST switch, fixed resistors (1.2kΩ and 4.7kΩ), potentiometer (10kΩ), multimeter and

D.C power supply (10V).

2
DIAGRAM:

PROCEDURE:

• Multisim was opened and create new circuit was selected to begin building the circuit.
• Firstly, the SPST switch was selected and put onto the grid horizontally. Then the D.C
power supply was added to the grid and its voltage value altered to 10V. The positive
side of the power supply was connected to the switch.
• Two resistors were also placed on the grid along with the potentiometer. The resistance
values of the resistors and potentiometer were altered to the suitable values (Resistor 1-
1.2kΩ, Resistor 2- 4.7kΩ and Potentiometer- 10kΩ).
• The two fixed resistors were placed in series vertically with resistor 1 (R1) connecting to
the other side of the switch while the potentiometer was place in parallel to the two
resistors. The wires that connected the potentiometer to resistor 2 (R2) was connected to
the negative side of the power supply.
• A ground was added to the last point on the circuit that was connected to the wire of the
negative side of the power supply.
• Then a voltage probe (Vbc) was added just before resistor one and the reference probe
just before junction b and another voltage probe (Vab) was placed after the junction b but
before R2 and its reference probe after R2.
• A current probe was placed on the positive side of the potentiometer and another after
junction b.
• Lastly the switch was closed, and the simulation was allowed to run.
• The potentiometer was varied so that the load current on the table can match the load
current probe on the simulation.

3
 • For each load current value on the table that had to be met, the corresponding values were
recorded such as the voltage drops (Vbc and Vab), current, resistance and potentiometer
percentage.

RESULTS & OBSERVATIONS:

Table of Results:

Measured Values
Supply Load Current, Voltage, Voltage, Potentiometer Resistance,
Voltage, Current, I1/mA Vbc/V Vab/V % RL/kΩ
V/V IL/mA
10.0 0.0 1.50 2.70 7.20 100.00 10.00

10.0 1.0 1.49 3.00 7.00 70.00 7.00

10.0 2.0 1.28 4.00 6.00 30.00 3.00

10.0 3.0 1.07 4.96 5.04 16.50 1.65

10.0 4.0 0.86 5.93 4.07 10.00 1.00

10.0 5.0 0.68 6.78 3.22 6.50 0.65

10.0 6.0 0.45 7.86 2.14 3.50 0.35

10.0 7.0 0.23 8.92 1.08 1.50 0.15

10.0 8.0 0.08 9.60 0.40 0.50 0.05

How does the circuit operate?

4
When the switch is closed, the current being supply from the positive side of the 10V power

supply is allowed to run through the circuit. The current goes through resistor one and the

voltage drops which results in a drop of current. Then the current is split at junction b which

results in a drop in current. The two directions of current flow will now be through resistor two

and the potentiometer. At resistor 2, another voltage drop will occur and at the potentiometer, the

drop in current and voltage would be varied as the percentage of resistance is varied on the

potentiometer. Current would then flow from the negative side of the potentiometer and meet

with the current at junction a to then flow to the negative side of the power supply.

Screen shot of Circuit:

5
DATA ANALYSIS:

1. What type of circuit is this (series, parallel or series-parallel combination)? Explain.

This is a series- parallel circuit. This is so because there are two resistors (R1 and R2) that are

in series and another resistor (R L) that is in parallel to R2.

2. Explain how the load current varies with the load resistance.

Resistance is inversely proportional to current. Which simply means that when there is an

increase in resistance, there is a decrease in current and vice versa. As can be seen in table 1

(Measured values) column Load current ILmA and Resistance RL/kΩ, when the

potentiometer was varied and decreased, there was an increase in I L.

3. What is the effect of I1 as the load current IL increases?

As the load current IL increases, the current I1 decreases.

4. Explain the effect of Vab and Vbc at the divider taps as the load current increases.

As the load current increases, at the divider taps, Vbc increases while Vab decreases.

5. If R2 is open-circuited, what will be the effect on the voltage across RL and why?

6
 If R2 is open circuited, the voltage across RL will increase. This is so because RL and Rl

would now be in series compared to when R L and R2 was in parallel and shared the same

voltage. Furthermore, the component or resistor with the largest resistance would have the

largest voltage drop.

CONCLUSION:

In this lab, by applying it practically to a circuit simulation, the voltage divider rule was clearly

demonstrated and understood. The values displayed on the voltage and current probes were

tabulated and analyzed. The analyzed data was used to determine how load affects voltage in a

voltage divider circuit. At the end of this lab all objectives were achieved by successfully

constructing a circuit, recording the necessary values and interpreting said data in relation to the

voltage divider rule.

7
FORMAT FOR WRITING-UP THE PROJECT DESIGN SBAs
The following sections MUST be produced when writing – up ALL Project Design SBAs:
(1) PROJECT DESIGN
Here you will simply re-state the challenge given to you. You should attempt to do so in
your own words as far as practically possible. It is useful to come up with a practical
application of this circuit.

(2) SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

This is a description in point form of what the students will have to do or achieve.

(3) SCHEMATIC AND/OR WORKING DRAWINGS

You will only have a schematic diagram, which should be neatly drawn and properly
labeled.

(4) LIST OF TOOLS AND MATERIALS

List ALL the tools and materials you used in carrying out the activity. Use separate sub-
headings.

(5) PROCEDURES
List ALL the procedures carried out in performing the activity. You can number them in
sequential order. Someone should be able to follow your procedures to repeat the activity
exactly as you did it. Remember to include the tests you carried out. Should be written in
PAST PASSIVE TENSE.

(6) OBSERVATIONS
Your Observations should include:
- The results of testes carried out.
- Any observable changes that occurred during the exercise.
- How the circuit functioned/operated.

(7) RELEVANT THEORY

The relevant theory should include a description of the circuit built and a brief explanation
of how it works. Since your circuit will have two meters connected in it, you will have to
talk about how these meters ought to be connected.

(8) CONCLUSIONS
Your conclusions should encapsulate ALL the activities done. For example you will say:
• At the end of this lab, it was found that….
• At the end of this lab, all objectives were achieved…