Physics: Principles with Applications (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32162-592-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-32162-592-2

Chapter 19 - DC Circuits - Questions - Page 550: 21

Answer

An ammeter measures the current flowing through it, so with no resistance its measurement would be most accurate. A voltmeter measures the difference in potential between two points, so with infinite resistance the measurement would be most accurate.

Work Step by Step

An ammeter is wired in series with a circuit element to measure the current that was flowing through it. An ideal, zero-resistance ammeter wouldn’t change the current that was originally flowing. A voltmeter is wired in parallel with a circuit element in order to measure the voltage difference across it. An ideal, infinite-resistance voltmeter wouldn’t shunt any current around the element, and thus, would not change the original voltage difference that was present.
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