What happens to the output voltage across a resistor in a voltage divider if more load is added?

What happens to the output voltage across a resistor in a voltage divider if more load is added?

• A. It increases
• B. It decreases
• C. It remains the same
• D. Depends on the resistance

Answer: (B)

In a voltage divider circuit, the output voltage is determined by the ratio of the resistances involved. When a load is added in parallel with one of the resistors in the divider, it effectively changes the total resistance seen by the circuit. This addition of load introduces a parallel resistance that reduces the total resistance, leading to a decrease in output voltage. As the load draws current from the voltage divider, it creates a voltage drop across the existing resistors, which causes the output voltage to decrease. The load resistance typically has a significant impact on the circuit design and performance, particularly if the load is comparable to the divider resistances. Therefore, increasing the load results in a drop in output voltage across the resistor that serves as the output of the voltage divider. This principle is fundamental in understanding how voltage dividers behave under varying load conditions, highlighting the importance of considering load effects in circuits designed for specific voltage outputs.

In a voltage divider circuit, the output voltage is determined by the ratio of the resistances involved. When a load is added in parallel with one of the resistors in the divider, it effectively changes the total resistance seen by the circuit. This addition of load introduces a parallel resistance that reduces the total resistance, leading to a decrease in output voltage.

As the load draws current from the voltage divider, it creates a voltage drop across the existing resistors, which causes the output voltage to decrease. The load resistance typically has a significant impact on the circuit design and performance, particularly if the load is comparable to the divider resistances. Therefore, increasing the load results in a drop in output voltage across the resistor that serves as the output of the voltage divider.

This principle is fundamental in understanding how voltage dividers behave under varying load conditions, highlighting the importance of considering load effects in circuits designed for specific voltage outputs.