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Voltage divider simulationThe voltage divider

Two resistors. One useful lesson in voltage, current and loading.

Watch it built from an empty canvas · R1 = R2 = 1 kΩ · Vin = 10 V · real desktop recording, no sound · 0:31
Read the transcript
  1. Drop in a source and type 10.
  2. Add two 1 kΩ resistors and ground.
  3. Press W, then click pin to pin.
  4. Run the DC operating point.
  5. Hover a resistor: 5 V across, 5 mA through.

Run the experiment.

Run DC operating point. Read the midpoint between R1 and R2: 5 V. Each resistor carries 5 mA.

Now change one thing.

Change the lower resistor to 2 kΩ. Before running again, predict the midpoint: 10 × 2 / (1 + 2) ≈ 6.67 V. The current falls to about 3.33 mA.

Make the prediction before pressing Run. After changing a component value, the previous result is marked out of date until you run it again.

Know the assumptions.

These values assume an unloaded divider. A load connected across the lower resistor changes the effective resistance and the output.