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Table 5.2 Potential Difference of Rheostat Used As Potential Divider

This document describes an experiment measuring the voltage division across two resistors connected in series. It provides the theoretical background of voltage division using Ohm's law and the formula for calculating the output voltage as a function of the input voltage, resistor 1 value, and resistor 2 value. The document also lists some potential sources of error such as battery voltage decreasing over time and resistor heating during long experiments.

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Julie Ann Estaras Felices
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61 views1 page

Table 5.2 Potential Difference of Rheostat Used As Potential Divider

This document describes an experiment measuring the voltage division across two resistors connected in series. It provides the theoretical background of voltage division using Ohm's law and the formula for calculating the output voltage as a function of the input voltage, resistor 1 value, and resistor 2 value. The document also lists some potential sources of error such as battery voltage decreasing over time and resistor heating during long experiments.

Uploaded by

Julie Ann Estaras Felices
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Vac Rac

Vab Vbc measure Rab Rbc %err


computed %error Measured computed
d or
1 .156 4.604 4.977 4.840 2.83 13.22 221.4 226.4 234.6 3.5
2 .408 4.372 4.976 4.78 4.1 30.81 215.9 230.9 246.71 6.4
3 .623 4.354 4.977 4.977 0.0 55.1 209.8 274.0 264.9 3.4
4 .925 4.054 4.973 4.979 0.2 57.5 199.3 245.7 256.8 4.3
5 1.969 3.104 4.974 5.073 2.0 111.1 159.2 277.5 270.3 2.7
6 2.238 2.750 4.974 4.988 0.3 126.3 150.4 246.1 276.7 1.1
7 2.755 2.226 4.975 4.981 0.1 148.9 125 240.1 273.9 12.3
8 3.623 1.363 4.977 4.986 0.2 195.9 84.3 243 280.2 13.3
Table 5.2 Potential Difference of Rheostat used as potential divider

In this part of the experiment, a voltage source was applied across a series of two resistors that should be
essentially in the same circuit. The resistor closest to the input voltage is denoted as R1 and the other resistor is the
R2. The voltage drop across R2 is the Vout, which is the divided voltage the circuit exists to make.
From Ohm’s law (V=IR), we can derive the formula of Vout:

𝑉𝑖𝑛 = 𝐼(𝑅1 + 𝑅2 )
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝐼(𝑅2 )
𝑉𝑖𝑛
𝐼=
𝑅1 + 𝑅2

𝑅2
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑉𝑖𝑛 ( )
𝑅1 + 𝑅2

The output voltage is directly proportional to the input voltage and the ration of R 1 and R2. Since the voltage
divider works in resistors in series connection, the current is equal or constant throughout the circuit while the total
voltage and resistance are equal to the sum of individual voltage and resistance. For instance, for a single resistor,
the ratio of the individual resistor to the total resistor of the circuit is directly proportional to the ration of individual
voltage in that resistor to the total voltage of the circuit. Therefore, the greater the resistance, the greater the voltage.
The mathematical form is shown below.

𝑉𝑛 𝑅𝑛
=
𝑉𝑇 𝑅𝑇

The equation that relates voltage and resistance can be determined since the circuit is a series. The equation is
shown below.
𝑉1 + 𝑉2 = 𝑉𝑇 ; 𝐼𝑇 = 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 ; and 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 = 𝑅𝑇 .
𝑉1 = 𝑉𝑡 − 𝑉2 = 𝐼𝑇 𝑅𝑇 − 𝑉2 = 𝐼𝑇 (𝑅1 + 𝑅2 ) − 𝐼2 (𝑅2 )
Since 𝐼𝑇 = 𝐼1 = 𝐼2 , 𝑉1 = 𝐼2 (𝑅1 + 𝑅2 − 𝑅2 )
Since 𝐼2 = 𝑉2 ⁄𝑅2 , 𝑉1 = (𝑉2 ⁄𝑅2 ) (𝑅1 )
Then, 𝑹𝟐 ⁄𝑹𝟏 = 𝑽𝟐 ⁄𝑽𝟏

Some of the possible sources of errors are the following: the wearing off of the battery which reduces its voltage.
Because of this the result might vary. Also when the resistor is used for a long period of time, it became hotter

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