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Electrical Circuits and Formulae

Voltage Division by Series Resistances

When a total voltage ES is applied across series connected resistances R1 and R2, the current IS which flows through the series circuit is:

IS = ES / RS = ES / (R1 + R2)

The voltages V1 and V2 which appear across the respective resistances R1 and R2 are:

V1 = ISR1 = ESR1 / RS = ESR1 / (R1 + R2)

V2 = ISR2 = ESR2 / RS = ESR2 / (R1 + R2)

In general terms, for resistances R1, R2, R3, ... connected in series:

IS = ES / RS = ES / (R1 + R2 + R3 + ...)

Vn = ISRn = ESRn / RS = ESRn / (R1 + R2 + R3 + ...)

Note that the highest voltage drop appears across the highest resistance.