Should an ammeter have a low or high resistance? Why? Should a voltmeter have a low or high resistance? Why?

Short Answer

Expert verified

An ammeter should have low resistance since it is connected in series. A voltmeter should have high resistance since it is connected in parallel.

Step by step solution

01

Given data

An ammeter and voltmeter are provided.

02

Current and resistance

Current through a circuit path is inversely proportional to the total resistance in that path.

03

Determination of resistances of ammeter and voltmeter

An ammeter is connected in series in a circuit. Hence it must have low resistance so as not to modify the total resistance of the circuit much. If it does, then it will modify the current which it has to measure.

A voltmeter is connected in parallel to the circuit. It provides an alternate path for the current to flow. So it must have very high resistance so that current doesn't flow through that path keeping the current and voltage in the original circuit unchanged.

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