Voltage Distribution in a Potential Divider Circuit

Muhammad Danish · May 18, 2018

Homework Statement

Circuit schematic of a potential divider: a resistor labelled P with a sliding contact X connected to two lamps, lamp 1 and lamp 2, in parallel across the divider, fed by a cell. Below it is a table of options A to E for how each lamp's brightness changes.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

When we will move the contact X towards P, the potential difference should be maximum across the potential divider. I work out A as my answer but I think it is wrong.

cnh1995 · May 18, 2018

Muhammad Danish said:

I work out A as my answer but I think it is wrong.

Yes, that is incorrect.

Muhammad Danish said:

When we will move the contact X towards P, the potential difference should be maximum across the potential divider.

True, but how does this affect the bulbs? What is the potential difference across lamp 1 when you connect X to P?

Muhammad Danish · May 18, 2018

cnh1995 said:

Yes, that is incorrect.

True, but how does this affect the bulbs? What is the potential difference across lamp 1 when you connect X to P?

This is where my confusion is..

Muhammad Danish · May 19, 2018

Muhammad Danish said:

This is where my confusion is..

@cnh1995 Can you guide me further?

CWatters · May 19, 2018

Let's say the battery is 12v.
What is the voltage at node P?
What is the voltage on the slider X when it's at P?
What is the voltage on each side of lamp 1?
What is the difference between each side of lamp 1?

Voltage Distribution in a Potential Divider Circuit

Homework Statement

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

Discussion

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