Simple circuits
Resistors, capacitors and inductors are described as passive components. The currents through them and the p.d.s across them are the result of external currents and p.d.s. They contrast with the active components such as transistors. Before we go further, we look at ways in which the passive components are connected to make useful circuit building blocks.
Potential divider
This consists of two or more resistors wired in series. In Figure A opposite, we have a potential divider made up of ten equal resistors, resistance 1 Ω each. For each resistor, V = IR (p. 25) and, because the same current flows through all of them and they all have the same resistance, I and R are the same for all, making V the same for all. As we go down the ...
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