Week 10

Voltage Divider and Current

Divider Rules
Learning Outcomes

After completing this lesson, you should be able to apply:

i. voltage divider rule
ii. current divider rule, and
in steady-state ac circuit analysis.
Voltage Divider Rule
The voltage divider rule is a shortcut method for determining the
voltage drop across an impedance within a series circuit.

To derive the voltage divider rule, consider the following circuit,

where N impedances are connected in series across an ac voltage
source, V. KVL gives us

V  I Z1  Z 2  Z3  ....  Z N 

Now, Ohm’s law gives us

V1 V2 V3 V
I    ...  N
Z1 Z 2 Z 3 ZN
Hence, we can write

V 
V1
Z1  Z 2  Z3  ....  Z N 
Z1
The above equation can be rearranged into the more familiar form as

Z1
V1 
Z1  Z 2  Z3  ....  Z N 
V

Similarly, it can be shown that

Z2
V2 
Z1  Z 2  Z3  ....  Z N 
V
Thus, the general equation for finding the voltage drop across
impedance Zi is

Zi
Vi 
Z1  Z 2  Z3  ....  Z N 
V

Note
The voltage divider rule is very useful in circuit analysis because it
allows us to determine the voltage drop across an impedance within
a series circuit without having to find the circuit current first.
The Voltage Division for two impedances in series is:

Z1
V1 
Z1  Z 2 
V

Z2
V2 
Z1  Z 2 
V
Worked Example
Determine the voltage drop across ZR.

Note
This is a badly formulated question I found on the internet. The circuit
drawn mixes quantities in the time domain with those in the phasor
domain. One must be careful not to apply KVL directly to the circuit.
Solution
1. Obtain a phasor representation for the supply voltage.

V  10  90 o V

2. Find the complex impedance of the capacitor.

We are given the value Xc = 5 Ω. Hence, the complex impedance
of the capacitor is

ZC   jX c   j5
3. Draw the phasor domain circuit.


ZC   j5
V  10  90o V VR Z R  100o 

Solution
4. Use the voltage divider rule to determine VR.

ZR
VR  V
Z R  ZC

10
 10  90 o  8.94  63.43o V
10  j5

Hence,

vR(t)= P-1{vR(t)} = 8.94cos(6280t – 63.43o) V

Worked Example
Determine vL(t), and i(t).

i(t)

L
Solution
1. Obtain a phasor representation for the supply voltage.

VS  5  90o V

2. Find the complex impedance of the inductor.

We are given the value L = 0.2 H. Hence, the complex
impedance of the inductor is

Z L  jL  j 10  0.2  j 2 

Z R  40o 
3. Draw the phasor domain circuit. I


VS  5  90o V VL ZC  j 2 

Solution
4. Use the voltage divider rule to determine VL.

ZL j2
VL  VS   5  90 o  2.236  26.56 o V
ZR  ZL 4  j2

5. Use Ohm’s law to find phasor current I.

VL 2.236   26.56 o
I   1.118  116 .56 o A
ZL j2

Hence,
vL(t)= P-1{VL} = 2.236cos(10t – 26.56o) V

i(t)= P-1{I)} = 1.118cos(10t – 116.56o) A

Worked Example
Calculate vo in the following circuit.
Solution
1. Obtain a phasor representation for the supply voltage.

VS  1075o V

2. Find the complex impedance of the inductor.

We are given the value L = 0.5 H. Hence, the complex
impedance of the inductor is

Z L  jL  j 10  0.5  j5 

3. Find the complex impedance of the capacitor.

1 1
ZC  j   j2 
jC 10 
1
20
4. Draw the phasor domain circuit.

Z L  j5 

VS  1075o V Z R  10  ZC   j 2 

5. Replace the parallel-connected inductor and resistor with an

equivalent impedance.

Z1Z 2 10  j5
ZA    2  j4
Z1  Z 2 10  j5
The simplified phasor domain circuit is shown below.

Z A  2  j4 

VS  1075o V Vo ZC   j 2 

6. Use the voltage divider rule to determine Vo.

Vo 
ZC  j2
VS  1075o  7.07  60 o V
Z A  ZC 2  j4

Hence,

vo(t)= P-1{Vo} = 7.07cos(10t – 60o) V

Worked Example
Find the magnitude and phase of Vo at 5 kHz.

vi (t )  10 cost V
Solution
1. Calculate the complex impedances of the two inductors.

Z L1  jL1  j  2    5000 110 3  j31.4 

Z L 2  jL2  j  2    5000  2 10 3  j 62.83 

ii. Draw the phasor domain circuit.

Z L1  j31.4  Z L 2  j 62.83 

Vi  100o V
3. Simplify the circuit by replacing the series-connected inductor
and resistor with an equivalent impedance.

Z1  50  j 62.83 

Z L1  j31.4 

Vi  100o V Z1
3. Further simplify the circuit by replacing the parallel-connected
elements with an equivalent impedance.

10 Z1 10  Z1
Z2    9.2  j 0.83 
10  Z1 10  Z1

Z L1  j31.4 

Vi  100o V Z2
6. Use voltage divider rule to determine Vo.

Z2
Vo  VS
Z L1  Z 2

9.2  j 0.83
 100o  2.756  68.9o V
j31.4  9.2  j 0.83

Hence,

vo(t)= P-1{Vo} = 2,756cos(t – 68.9o) V

Worked Example
Find the voltage vc(t) in steady state. Find the phasor current
through each element, and construct a phasor diagram showing the
currents and source voltage.
Solution
1. Write a phasor representation for the source voltage.
Given
vS (t )  10 sin 1000 t V

Therefore
VS  10  90o V

2. Find the complex impedances of the inductor and the capacitor.

Given: L = 0.1 H; C = 10 µF. Hence,

Z L  jL  j 1000  0.1  j100 

1 1
ZC  j   j100 
jC 1000 10 10 6
3. Draw the phasor domain circuit.

4. Replace the parallel-connected elements an equivalent

impedance.

ZA 
100  j100   50  j50 
100  j100
 The simplified phasor domain circuit is shown below.

ZA= 50 – j50

5. Use voltage divider rule to determine VC.

VC 
ZA 50  j50
VS  10  90 o
Z A  j100 50  j50  j100
Therefore,

VC  10153o V
and
 
vC (t )  10 cos 1000t  153o V
6. Label the circuit currents.
I

Use Ohm’s law to determine IR, IC.

VC 10153o
IC    0.163.38o A
 j100 j100

VC 10153o
IR    0.1153o A
100 100

7. KCL gives

I  I R  I C  0.1153o  0.163.38o  0.141108.38o A

Therefore,


iC (t )  0.1cos 1000t  63.38o A 
 
iR (t )  0.1cos 1000 t  153o A
and

i(t )  0.141 cos 1000t  108.38o A 
Phasor
diagram I
IR IC

VS
Worked Example
Find the output voltage vo if 10 Volt is applied.
Solution
1. Define the source voltage as the reference phasor. With this
definition we can then write

VS  100o V

2. Replace the parallel-connected elements an equivalent

impedance.
Let

Z1  10  j10   ; Z 2   j10 

Therefore

ZA 
Z1Z 2

10  j10 j10  2  j 6 
Z1  Z 2 10  j10  j10
3. Draw the simplified circuit.

Vi  100o V Z A  2  j 6 

4. Use voltage divider rule to determine V1.

ZA 2  j6
V1  VS  100o
Z A  10 2  j 6  10
Therefore,

V1  4.71  45o V
5. Use voltage divider rule again to determine Vo.

 j10
Vo  V1  3.33  90o V
10  j10
Therefore,

 
vo (t )  3.33 cos t  90o V

V1
Worked Example

Find v(t) in the RLC circuit shown below.

Solution
1. Define the source voltage as the reference phasor. With this
definition we can then write

VS  100o V

2. Replace the parallel-connected elements an equivalent

impedance.
Let

Z1  1  jL   1  j 1; 1  1  j1 

1 1
Z2     j1 
jC j 11
Therefore
ZA 
Z1Z 2

1  j1 j1  1  j  
Z1  Z 2 1  j1  j1
3. Draw the simplified circuit.

1Ω

VS  100o V V Z A  1  j  

4. Use voltage divider rule to determine V .

ZA 1 j
V  VS  100o
Z A 1 1 j 1
Therefore,

V1  6.33  18.44 o V
giving


v(t )  6.33 cos t  18.44 o V 
Worked Example
Find the steady-state expression for vo(t) if vS(t) = 64cos(8000t).

vS(t)
Solution
1. Draw the phasor domain circuit.

Let VS  640o V

Z L  jL  j  8000  500 10 -3  j 4000 

Z R  2000 
1 1
ZC    j   j3968 
jC 8000  31.5 10 9

 j3968 

VS  640o V j 4000 
Solution
2. Replace the parallel-connected elements an equivalent
impedance.
ZRZL
Let ZA 
ZR  ZL

Therefore,

ZA 
 j 4000 2000   1600  j800  
2000  j 4000

3. Draw the simplified circuit.

1j3968
Ω 

VS  640o V Vo Z A  1600  j800  

4. Use voltage divider rule to determine Vo.
1j3968
Ω 

VS  640o V Vo Z A  1600  j800  

ZA 1600  j800
Vo  VS   640o
Z A  j3968 1600  j800  j3968
Therefore,

Vo  32.2689.77 o V
giving

 
vo (t )  32.26 cos 800t  89.77 o V
Current Divider Rule
The current divider rule is useful in determining the current flowing
through an impedance within a parallel circuit.

To derive the current divider rule, consider the following circuit,

where N impedances are connected in parallel across an ac voltage
source, V. KCL gives us

I  I1  I 2  .....  I n

Now, Ohm’s law gives us

V V V
I1  ; I2  ; ……. IN 
Z1 Z2 ZN
Therefore, we can write
 1 1 1 
I  I1  I 2  .....  I n  V    ... 
 Z1 Z 2 ZN 
Thus,
V IZ Z
I1    I
Z1 Z1 Z1

V IZ Z
I2    I
Z2 Z2 Z2

V IZ Z
IN    I
ZN ZN ZN
Method #1
Current Divider Rule for Circuit with Two Parallel Impedances

For the simple case where there are only two parallel impedances
across the voltage source V, we have

Z1 Z 2
Z Z 1 Z 2
I1  I  I
Z1 Z1
Z2
I1  I
Z1  Z 2

Z1 Z 2
Z Z Z Z1
I2  I 1 2 I I
Z2 Z2 Z1  Z 2
Method #2
Current Divider Rule for Circuit with Two Parallel Impedances

Another useful current divider relationship can be obtained by taking

the ratio of I1 to I2, as follows:

V1  V2  I1 Z1  I 2 Z 2
I1 Z 2

I 2 Z1

Therefore,
Z2 Z1
I1  I2 and I2  I1
Z1 Z2
Worked Example

Find the steady-state expression for io(t) and i1(t) if is(t) = 125cos(500t) mA.

i1(t) io(t)

iS(t)
Solution
1. Write a phasor representation for the source current.
Given
iS (t )  125 cos500t mAV

Therefore
I S  0.1250o A

2. Find the complex impedances of the inductor and the capacitor.

Given: L = 1 H; C = 20 µF. Hence,

Z L  jL  j  500 1  j500 

1 1
ZC  j   j100 
jC 500  20 10 6
3. Draw the phasor domain circuit.

I1 Io

IS
 j100  j500 

4. Replace the series-connected elements with their equivalent

impedances.

Z1  50  j100  ; Zo  250  j500 

The simplified phasor domain circuit is shown below.

I1 Io

IS Z1 Zo
 j100  j500 

5. Use current divider rule to determine Io.

ZR 50  j100
Io  IS   0.1250o A
ZR  Z A 50  j100   250  j500 
Therefore,

I o  0.028  116.56o A

and

 
io (t )  0.028 cos 500t  116.56o A
Worked Example
If the voltage vo across the 2-Ω resistor in the circuit is 10cos2t V,
obtain iS.

iS
Solution
1. Write a phasor representation for the voltage across the 2 Ω
resistor.
Given vo (t )  10 cos 2t V

Therefore Vo  100o V

2. Find the complex impedances of the inductor and the capacitor.

Given: L = 0.5 H; C = 0.1 µF. Hence,

Z L  jL  j  2  0.5  j1 

1 1
ZC  j   j5 
jC 2  0.1
3. Draw the phasor domain circuit.

 j5  j1 


IS 21  Vo 2


4. Replace the series-connected capacitor, inductor and resistor

with an equivalent impedance.

Z A  2  j1  j 5  2  j 4
The simplified phasor domain circuit is shown below.

Io
IR
IS 2 ZR  1  Z A  2 - j4 

5. Use Ohm’s law to determine Io.

Vo 100o io
Io    50o A
2 2
6. Use current divider rule to determine Is.

ZR
Io  IS
ZR  Z A

Therefore, plugging in the known values into the above

expression, we obtain

1
50  o
IS
1  2  j4
Thus,

I S  50o 1  3  j 4  25  53.13o A

and

 
iS (t )  25 cos 2t  53.13o A
Exercise
Summary
In this lesson we have looked at
1. The voltage divider rule,
2. The current divider rule.