What is the function of a voltage divider?

A voltage divider is specifically designed to produce a lower voltage from a higher voltage source. It utilizes resistors arranged in series to create a voltage drop across one or more of the resistors, effectively allowing you to tap into a desired lower voltage level. This is a common application in electronics where specific voltage levels are needed for components that cannot handle the higher input voltage directly.

The voltage output from a voltage divider can be calculated using the formula ( V_{out} = V_{in} \times \frac{R2}{R1 + R2} ), where ( R1 ) is the resistor connected to the input voltage and ( R2 ) is the resistor connected to ground. This highlights how the voltage divider provides a straightforward way to scale down voltages for various applications, such as sensor interfaces or reference voltages for analog circuits.

Other options, such as increasing voltage or converting AC to DC, are accomplished through different types of circuits or configurations, like step-up transformers or rectifiers, which do not involve the principle of a voltage divider at all. Likewise, while voltage dividers can contribute to circuit protection in a broad sense, their primary design intent is for voltage reduction rather than protection against faults like short circuits.