Engineering Theory & Mathematical Model
Series resistors share the same current I = Vin/(R1 + R2), so the voltage drop across each resistor scales directly with its fraction of total series resistance. Voltage dividers set reference bias voltages, attenuate high-voltage signals for ADC microcontroller pins, and read resistive sensors.
Interactive Lab Procedure
- Click "2kΩ Var" (POT1) on the schematic and drag its Wiper slider between 5% and 100% to sweep Vout continuously.
- Wire an extra 500 Ω load resistor in parallel with VM1 to observe practical voltage-divider sag (Thevenin loading effect)!
- Compare measured Vout against the analytical formula Vout = 10 × R2 / (1000 + R2).
Technical FAQ
What is the core governing formula for Voltage Divider & Variable Potentiometer Simulator?
Vout = Vin × [ R2 / (R1 + R2) ] — Series resistors share the same current I = Vin/(R1 + R2), so the voltage drop across each resistor scales directly with its fraction of total series resistance. Voltage dividers set reference bias voltages, attenuate high-voltage signals for ADC microcontroller pins, and read resistive sensors.
Can I modify component values and rewire this circuit live?
Yes! The schematic above runs a live MNA SPICE engine. Click any part to adjust parameters, add or delete wires and components, and click Share URL to save your custom topology.