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9702 · 10.3

Potential dividers

Cambridge 9702 Paper 2 — Potential dividers (10.3). Senpai Corner diagram-backed pilot with premium structure and live visuals.

Need to know

What you need to know

  • 10.3 Potential dividers.
  • According to Kirchhoff’s Second Law, the potential difference across a power source is divided when two resistors are connected in series.
  • The larger the resistance the larger the voltage share (the big eater gets more pie!).
  • A potentiometer is a type of variable resistor used as a potential divider.
  • In the diagram above, the total resistance of the potentiometer is R.
  • When the slider is moved it divides R into R1 and R2.

Explanation

Potential dividers

  1. 10.3 Potential dividers.
  2. According to Kirchhoff’s Second Law, the potential difference across a power source is divided when two resistors are connected in series.
  3. The larger the resistance the larger the voltage share (the big eater gets more pie!).
  4. A potentiometer is a type of variable resistor used as a potential divider.