What does the Voltage Divider Rule calculate?

The Voltage Divider Rule is a fundamental principle in electrical engineering used to calculate the output voltage across a specific resistor in a series circuit. The rule states that the voltage across a resistor in a series circuit is proportional to its resistance relative to the total resistance of the circuit.

In the context of the provided answer, Vout = Vin * (R2 / (R1 + R2)) accurately represents this relationship. Here, Vout is the output voltage measured across the resistor R2, Vin is the total input voltage applied across the series combination of resistors R1 and R2, and R1 and R2 are the resistances of the respective resistors in series. The formula illustrates that the voltage drop across R2 is determined by the fraction of R2 in relation to the total resistance (R1 + R2).

Thus, this formula provides a straightforward method for determining the voltage across R2 given the total voltage and the values of the resistors. This rule is widely applicable in circuit analysis involving resistors in series, making it a crucial concept for understanding how voltage is distributed within such circuits.