Can a potential divider output 0V?

[Abbeyb37]

If a potential divider consists of 2 resistors, one of which is a variable resistor, how is it possible to get an output potential difference of 0V across one of the resistors?

All the books say that it is possible to achieve an output of 0V across one of the resistors, in a potential divider arrangement but isn't the output pd reliant on the ratio of the resistances of the resistors, and hence cannot be 0V?

I'm confused...

Ab

 

[jdavel]

What if one of the resistances is zero?

 

[Adrian Baker]

What if one of the resistances is zero?

Then it has failed in its mission in life - to resist!

- you're right though of course jdavel. The zero resistance setting is generally regarded as the one where the two ouput wires are connected to the same place. Easy to imagine with a sliding Potential divider, where the slider is all the way down at the 'zero' end. (Otherwise, its hard to imagine!)