Lesson 3.5.1.5

3.5.1.5 Potential divider Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 5

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.5.1.5, Potential divider: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Physics (7408), Unit 5: Electricity, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. A potential divider is used to:

    • convert alternating current to direct current
    • store charge in a capacitor
    • supply a constant or variable potential difference from a supply
    • measure resistance directly with a meter

  2. Two resistors R1 and R2 are in series across a supply pd V. The output pd across R2 is:

    • V R1 / (R1 + R2)
    • V R2 / (R1 + R2)
    • V (R1 + R2) / R2
    • V / (R1 + R2)

  3. A thermistor with negative temperature coefficient is used as the output-side resistor of a potential divider. As temperature rises, the pd across it:

    • decreases
    • stays the same
    • increases
    • becomes negative

  4. An LDR in darkness has:

    • zero resistance
    • a resistance that is zero at all light levels
    • a high resistance
    • a low resistance

  5. Which component is commonly used as a variable resistor in a potential divider?

    • a variable resistor such as a slider
    • a capacitor
    • an ideal ammeter
    • a superconductor

  6. In a potential divider, the output pd across R2 is zero when:

    • R1 is zero
    • R2 is zero
    • R2 is infinite
    • R1 equals R2

  7. A 6.0 V supply is across two resistors in series, 2.0 kohm and 4.0 kohm. What is the output pd across the 4.0 kohm resistor?

    • 2 V
    • 4 V
    • 3 V
    • 6 V

  8. A 9.0 V supply is across a 3.0 ohm and a 6.0 ohm resistor in series. What is the pd across the 6.0 ohm resistor?

    • 4.5 V
    • 9 V
    • 3 V
    • 6 V

  9. A 12 V supply is across a 10 kohm fixed resistor in series with an LDR. In darkness the LDR is 100 kohm. What is the pd across the LDR?

    • about 6.0 V
    • 12 V
    • about 1.1 V
    • about 10.9 V

  10. As a wiper moves along a variable resistor used as a potential divider, the output pd:

    • increases from zero to the full supply pd
    • stays constant at half the supply pd
    • oscillates between zero and the supply pd
    • decreases from full supply pd to zero

  11. A 6.0 V supply is across a fixed 2.0 kohm resistor in series with an NTC thermistor of 1.0 kohm. What is the pd across the thermistor?

    • 2 V
    • 4 V
    • 1 V
    • 3 V

  12. A 12 V supply must give a 3 V output across R2 in a potential divider. What ratio R2 : R1 is needed?

    • 1 : 4
    • 3 : 1
    • 1 : 3
    • 1 : 1

  13. A potential divider has total resistance 1.5 kohm. Its output across R2 is two thirds of the supply pd. What is R2?

    • 0.5 kohm
    • 1.5 kohm
    • 0.67 kohm
    • 1.0 kohm

  14. A divider with R1 = 1.0 kohm and R2 = 3.0 kohm is across an 8.0 V supply. What is the output pd across R2?

    • 2 V
    • 6 V
    • 4 V
    • 8 V

  15. A variable resistor is a 10 ohm track connected across 10 V with no load. The output is taken from its midpoint. What is the output pd?

    • 0 V
    • 5 V
    • 10 V
    • 2.5 V

  16. When a load resistor is connected across the output of a potential divider, the output pd falls because:

    • the load adds resistance to R1, increasing the output
    • the load is in parallel with R2, lowering the combined resistance of the lower branch
    • the load is in series with the supply, increasing the output
    • the load stores charge that raises the output

  17. A fixed resistor R1 = 2.0 kohm is in series with an NTC thermistor across 5.0 V. As the thermistor's resistance rises from 1.0 kohm to 4.0 kohm, how does the pd across the thermistor change?

    • It increases from about 1.7 V to about 3.3 V
    • It stays at 2.5 V
    • It increases from 0 V to 5 V
    • It decreases from about 3.3 V to about 1.7 V

  18. A 5.0 kohm fixed resistor is in series with a 10 kohm LDR across 6.0 V. What is the pd across the fixed resistor?

    • 1.2 V
    • 3.0 V
    • 4.0 V
    • 2.0 V

  19. A student claims that the potential divider output always equals the resistance ratio times the supply pd, even with a load attached. Which response is best?

    • Incorrect, because a load in parallel with the output resistor lowers its effective resistance, so the output pd falls.
    • Correct, since a load in series with the supply changes nothing.
    • Incorrect, because the output rises whenever a load is attached.
    • Correct, because a load does not change the ratio of resistances.

  20. A 12 V supply is across R1 = 4.0 kohm and R2 = 8.0 kohm. An 8.0 kohm load is connected across R2. What is the output pd?

    • 12 V
    • 8 V
    • 4 V
    • 6 V

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