Potential Divider: Understanding Its Purpose

[Air]

On reviewing the chapter on resistivity, I have come across a principle involving potential dividers. Can someone explain the purpose of this tool?

I think it is to vary the voltage so at one terminal the voltage is max and the other end it is zero.

 

[rock.freak667]

According to my notes, you use a potential divider to produce a pd that you want but might not be able to get. (i.e. where the supply voltage is greater than what is actually needed by a load)

You can also use it to have a pd which follows temperature or Light intensity. Also, it can be modified to become a potentiometer.

 

[stewartcs]

On reviewing the chapter on resistivity, I have come across a principle involving potential dividers. Can someone explain the purpose of this tool?

I think it is to vary the voltage so at one terminal the voltage is max and the other end it is zero.

Voltage dividers are typically used to output a specific voltage (whatever is needed in the circuit) that is somewhere between the supply voltage and close to zero.

CS