potential divider?

Question

I know that resistors oppose the flow of current, so why dont they also lower voltage since current is proportional to voltage? why is there a high voltage when resistance is high as in potential divider?

Answer 1

You have already answer your question.Resistance does lower the voltage that's why higher resistance take over more voltage and less resistance take less voltage. alternatively, they have same current and thus V= I x R.

Answer 2

Resistors do lower voltage, current and resistors have an inverse relationship, the constant being the voltage across them.
The voltage always likes to find the shortest path to being dispersed, or lowered by a resistor. The higher the resistor, more disperison will occur. The opposite is true for current, it looks for the path of lease resistance. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

You are thinking about things the wrong way.

In a circuit, you have to think about what is CONSTANT. In other words, do the power source deliver a constant voltage or a constant currrent. (In fact, real power sources are never perfect so they do something close to one or the other).

Things like batteries have a constant voltage between their terminals. Put a resistor across the terminals and the lower its resistance then the more current will be drawn.

Things like solar cells have a constant current. Put a resistor across the terminals and the lower its resistance then the lower the voltage that will be developed.

Answer 4

Think of potential as voltage or electrical pressure which is similar to water pressure. A city water pipe may deliver high pressure to your house and setting valves in parallel paths (sink, tub, shower, etc.) almost closed (high pressure and resistance) and almost fully open (low pressure and resistance) 'divides' the available potential. In an electrical circuit, observe how high and low value resistors can divide the electrical 'pressure.' Certain devices (potentiometers) are designed specifically to divide the potential.