Understanding Voltage Divider Rule in Parallel Circuits

  • Thread starter Nuklear
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In summary: But when you put resistors in a parallel circuit, something interesting happens. The voltage drops across the resistors, and the total voltage becomes less than the voltage that was applied to the source. In other words, the voltage divider rule applies.
  • #1
Nuklear
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I know the current divider rule. I want to know the Voltage Diver RUle in parrellel circuits.

Suppose we have 4 resistors of 2 Ohms in parrellel. The source is 10V. That means the total resistance is 1/2 Ohms and Tje current 20 Amps.If the current divies equally we have 5 amps thhrough each branch. 5 amps on each 2 Ohm resisitor means that there are 10V going across each resisto. But that doesn't add up because there is 10V at the source and the makes 40V across all the resistors. SO doe sthe voltage divide or stay at 10V for each resistor?
 
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  • #2
I think you answered your own question! The voltage is the same across each component in a parallel circuit.
 
  • #3
How is that? SO I could divid it a thousand times but still not lower the voltage below 10V?
 
  • #4
Nuklear said:
How is that? SO I could divid it a thousand times but still not lower the voltage below 10V?
Correct! However, what would happen to the current is a different matter...
 
  • #5
SO in a series the resistors loose a lot of power to resistors ahead of them.
 
  • #6
Nuklear said:
SO in a series the resistors loose a lot of power to resistors ahead of them.

Well the power dissipated is a product of current and voltage. Since the current in a series circuit is constant through all resistors, the only variable that changes from resistor to resistor is the voltage drop across them. No its not the loosing power to resistances ahead of them, instead the bigger voltage drop would yield higher power dissipation.
 
  • #7
Think of it this way. An ideal voltage source is something that (by definition) maintains a constant voltage across it. It doesn't matter what you put between the terminals of the source, whether it's a bunch of resistors in parallel, a transistor, or even an entire computer: you'll always find that the voltage across the leads is the same.
 

1. What is the voltage divider rule in parallel circuits?

The voltage divider rule is a mathematical formula used to determine the voltage across each branch of a parallel circuit. It states that the voltage across a branch is equal to the total voltage of the circuit multiplied by the resistance of that branch divided by the total resistance of the circuit.

2. How is the voltage divider rule derived?

The voltage divider rule is derived from Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's voltage law. It is based on the principle that the total current in a parallel circuit is equal to the sum of the currents in each branch, and that the voltage drop across each branch is directly proportional to its resistance.

3. When should the voltage divider rule be used?

The voltage divider rule is most commonly used when analyzing circuits with multiple parallel branches and a known total voltage. It can be used to calculate the voltage across each branch or to determine the resistance needed for a desired voltage across a specific branch.

4. What are the limitations of the voltage divider rule?

The voltage divider rule assumes that all components in the circuit are connected in parallel and that the current in each branch is constant. It also does not take into account the effects of internal resistance and non-ideal components, which can affect the accuracy of the calculations.

5. Are there any practical applications of the voltage divider rule?

Yes, the voltage divider rule has various practical applications in electronic circuits such as voltage regulation, sensor circuits, and audio amplifiers. It is also used in electrical engineering and telecommunications to distribute voltage and power in a circuit or system.

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