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Difference between Ammeter and Voltmeter is that the Ammeter measures electric current whereas the voltmeter measures voltage. The ammeter comes in handy in order to measure the flow of current. While the voltmeter comes in handy for measuring the voltage and emf between the two points in the electric circuit.
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Key Terms: Ammeter, Voltmeter, Electric Current, Ampere Meter, Voltage, Electric Current, Electromotive force, Cathode
What is an Ammeter?
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Ammeter comes from the term Ampere Meter. Ammeter is a type of meter used in electrical devices. It is used to measure the flow of current in a circuit. It is usually extremely accurate in its measurements.
Even in mili-amperes or micro-amperes, the Ammeter can measure a small amount of current. The Ammeter is connected to the measuring circuit in a series connection to measure the current. This is due to the fact that it can carry the entire circuit's current.
When it is kept in series with the circuit to be measured for flowing the entire current in the circuit through it, the ammeter is used to measure a small amount of current and the result is represented in milliamperes.
What is an Ammeter?Ammeter can be expressed as a device which is used to measure electric current. An ammeter is usually connected in series with the circuit and has more accuracy. What is a Voltmeter?Voltmeter can be defined as a device which is used for the measurement if voltage across two points. A voltmeter is generally connected in parallel with the circuit and has less accuracy. Define Current Electricity.Current electricity is the flow of electrons from one section of the circuit to another. What is Voltage?Voltage, which is also known as electromotive force, can be expressed as energy per unit charge. Simply, voltage can be defined as the difference in electric potential between two points. What is Current?Current can be defined as the rate of flow of electric charge. In other words, current is the rate at which electric charge flows in a circuit at a particular point. |
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What is a Voltmeter?
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Voltmeter is a device that is frequently used to measure voltage in electrical instruments. It's wired in parallel with the electrical circuit whose potential needs to be determined. A voltmeter is usually responsible to measure voltages calibrated in volts, millivolts (0.001 volts), or kilovolts (1000 volts).
The voltmeter's connection polarity is the same as that of the ammeter. The positive terminal is connected to the supply's positive polarity, and the negative terminal is connected to the supply's negative polarity.
Working Principle of a Voltmeter
The fundamental principle of a voltmeter is that it should be parallely connected to the circuit wherein the voltage is going to be measured. Simply, a parallel connection is utilised because a voltmeter is developed in a way that it has an extremely high resistance value.
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Key Differences between Ammeter and Voltmeter
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Apart from this, some of the many voltmeter and ammeter differences are listed below:
| Parameter | Ammeter | Voltmeter |
|---|---|---|
| Measuring Parameter | It's useful for measuring currents. | It is useful for measuring the voltage between two points. |
| Resistance Factor | The resistance is minimal. | The resistance is extremely high. |
| Connection type | It is connected in series with the circuit and has a higher level of accuracy. | It is connected in series with the circuit and has lower accuracy. |
| Range | It is impossible to change the range. | It is possible to change the range. |
| Constrictions ideal | The resistance of the ideal ammeter device must be zero. | The resistance of an ideal voltmeter device should be close to infinity. |
| Representation of symbols | It has the letter A as its symbol. | The letter V is used to represent it. |
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Applications of Ammeter
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The ammeter is applied for measuring a small amount of current and the result is shown in milliamperes when it is kept in series with the circuit to be measured for flowing the entire current in the circuit through it.
- This device is widely available in laboratories and industries, with a variety of ranges.
- It's also useful for measuring the current flow in the house's electrical instruments.zIt's also widely used in companies with a manufacturing or instrumentation background.
- The ammeter can also be used to check the temperature with a thermocouple.
- This device is used by electricians to check for circuit faults in offices and homes.
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Applications of Voltmeter
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In order to measure the potential, the voltmeter is connected in parallel with the electric circuit.
- Voltmeter is widely used in electric circuitry and hardware to perform extremely precise measurements.
- It measures the voltage as well as the circuit's and components' reliability and safety.
- Voltmeter is also useful in the circuit for debugging and thus confirming the presence of the required voltage's optimal value.
- The Voltmeter is also used with cathode ray tubes to ensure the results and measurements are accurate.
- It comes in handy in laboratories for experimenting and testing.
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Things to Remember
- Ammeter measures electric current and is represented by the letter A
- The voltmeter measures voltage and is represented by the letter V.
- Ammeter is connected in series in an electrical circuit.
- The voltmeter is connected in parallel in an electrical circuit.
- Ammeter offers very less resistance and it should be close to 0.
- Voltmeter offers very high resistance and it should be close to infinity.
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Previous Years Questions
- The resistance of the conductor in ohm is….[NEET 1989]
- What will be the equivalent resistance between the two points A and D...[NEET 1996]
- In the circuit shown the cells A and B have negligible resistances… .[NEET 2012]
- The total power dissipated in watt in the circuit shown here is…. [NEET 2007]
- Two batteries, one of emf 18 volts and internal resistance...[NEET 2005]
- In the electric network shown, when no current flows through the 4Ω resistor…
- In the above circuit the current in each resistance is….
- Find the internal resistance of the cell....[JEE Mains 2018]
- In vertical circular motion, the ratio of kinetic energy of a particle…. [MHT CET 2016]
- The motion of a particle in straight line is…. [JKCET 2013]
- A galvanometer acting as a voltmeter should have…
- The equivalent resistance across A and B is…
- A galvanometer having a coil resistance of 60O shows full scale deflection when..
- For the network shown in the figure, the value of the current i is….
Sample Questions
Ques. What is a differential voltmeter? (2 marks)
Ans. The differential voltmeter is a voltmeter that can be used to measure the voltage difference between known and unknown sources. The potentiometer voltmeter is another name for this device. This is due to the fact that the working principle is similar to that of a potentiometer. It is divided into two categories based on whether it is AC or DC: AC differential voltmeter and DC differential voltmeter.
Ques. What is a voltmeter's testing voltage range? (2 marks)
Ans. A voltmeter's testing range is 500 volts.
Ques. What is the definition of a digital voltmeter? (2 marks)
Ans. The digital voltmeter is a device that can be used to determine the electrical potential difference between two points in a circuit. The current can be either alternating current or direct current in this case. Pulse generator, gating, counting clock pulses, analog to digital conversion, and latching are the five functional segments of a digital voltmeter.
Ques. In a circuit, how do you connect an ammeter and a voltage meter? (2 marks)
Ans. An ammeter is connected in series to the circuit element, whereas a voltmeter is connected in parallel. Both are electrical measuring instruments that can aid in various calculations by determining the current and voltage in a circuit.
Ques. Why is the ammeter wired in series? (2 marks)
Ans. To obtain the maximum current flow in the electric circuit, an ammeter is connected in series. Because of its low internal resistance, this is possible. As a result, the current flow in the circuit can be precisely measured.
Ques. Why is the voltmeter wired in series? (2 marks)
Ans. The potential difference between the two points will be zero if the voltmeter is connected in series with the circuit element because they are on the same line. The voltmeter's high internal resistance is also used to determine the potential difference between the two points.
Ques. It is necessary to convert a voltmeter with a range of 5 V into an ammeter with a range of 10 mA. What resistance should be connected in parallel with a voltmeter whose resistance is 1 Kilo ohm? (2 marks)
Ans. The resistance of a 5V voltmeter is 1 k. As a result, the current flowing through this voltmeter is 5 milliamperes. If this voltmeter is to be converted into an ammeter with a current range of 10 mA, another 1 k resistor must be connected in parallel to the existing 1 k resistor. The 10 mA current is then shared equally by the voltmeter's resistance and the new resistance is added parallelly. Because the voltmeter's resistance is only 5 mA, it performs as expected.
Ques. What should you keep in mind when using an ammeter and a voltmeter? (2 marks)
Ans. A voltmeter is used to determine the voltage across a section of a circuit, whereas an ammeter is used to determine the current flowing through a specific point in the circuit. The voltmeter, on the other hand, remains outside the circuit, whereas the ammeter must be inserted.
Ques. What is the best location for the ammeter and voltmeter? (2 marks)
Ans. To receive full voltage, a voltmeter must be connected in parallel with the voltage source and have a large resistance to limit its effect on the circuit. An ammeter is connected in series with a branch to measure the total current flowing through it, and it must have a low resistance to keep its effect on the circuit to a minimum.
Ques. Why is a galvanometer not suitable to work as an ammeter? (2 marks)
Ans. A galvanometer has more resistance and less current-carrying capacity than those required by an ammeter. It will damage when large currents flow through it.
Ques. How is a galvanometer converted into an ammeter? (2 marks)
Ans. A galvanometer is converted into an ammeter by connecting a low resistance in parallel with the galvanometer coil (this parallel low resistance is called a shunt).
Ques. Name a voltmeter that has infinite resistance. (2 marks)
Ans. Electrostatic voltmeter has infinite resistance. It is also called an electrometer. An electronic voltmeter, called Vacuum Tube VoltMeter (VTVM), has nearly infinite resistance. It makes accurate measurement of potential difference. The potentiometer, at the null point, also acts as an ideal voltmeter (infinite resistance).
Ques. What are the applications of an ammeter? (4 marks)
Ans. The applications of ammeter are as follows:
- This device is easily available in different ranges in laboratories and industries.
- The current flow in the house as well can be easily measured by an ammeter for its electrical instruments.
- It is also widely used in companies having a base in manufacturing and instrumentation.
- The Ammeter is used with a thermocouple to check the temperature.
- Electricians are using this device to check the faults of the circuits in offices and also houses.
Ques. What are the applications of a voltmeter? (4 marks)
Ans. The applications of a voltmeter are as follows:
- A voltmeter is widely used in electric circuitry and hardware for doing very precise measurements.
- It measures the voltage with the surety and safety of the circuit and also its components.
- It is useful in the circuit for debugging and hence to certify the presence of the optimal value of the required voltage.
- The Voltmeter is also in use with cathode ray tubes to ensure the accuracy of the results and measurements.
Ques. How can a voltmeter be connected to a circuit? (1 mark)
Ans. The voltmeter can always be connected in parallel across the circuit.
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