Physics is always a confusing subject. Every object and thing has different types of measurement and standards. It is complex to keep in mind. But it becomes easy when we make a comparative study and know the differences. Every description has specific definitions, and it is easy to remember the formulas once we read the definitions.
Key Takeaways
- Ammeters measure electric current, while voltmeters measure voltage.
- Ammeters connect in series within a circuit, whereas voltmeters connect in parallel.
- Ammeters have low resistance, while voltmeters have high resistance.
Ammeter vs Voltmeter
The difference Between Ammeter and Voltmeter is their usage. The ammeter is used to measure electric current. The voltmeter is used to measure the electrical potential difference. The connection in the circuit is different on both. The ammeter is connected in series, whereas the voltmeter is connected in parallel. But both are used to measure electricity. The ammeter measures the flow of the current. The voltmeter measures the voltage of the current.
The ampere meter is shortend to ammeter. It is a measuring instrument used to measure electricity by connecting to the series in the circuit. The current measured are denoted in Amperes with the symbol A. Low resistance cannot cause voltage drop is the concept behind the ammeter. The milliampere and microampere are used to measure small amounts of currents. Due to the earth’s magnetic field, the ammeter are used only in laboratories in the early days. In the circuit, the ammeter is denoted by the symbol A.
The voltmeter is a device to measure the current by voltage. The voltmeter is connected in parallel to the circuit. It is used to measure the electrical potential difference. Unlike an ammeter, a voltmeter has high resistance that is negligible to the current is the concept behind the voltmeter. From the galvanometer and series resistor, the pointer in the voltmeter measures the voltage. By using the amplifiers, you can measure tiny voltages in microvolts. Recently, digital voltmeters have been used widely, showing the numerical display.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of comparison | Ammeter | Voltmeter |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Ammeter used to measure the current | Voltmeter used to measure the voltage |
| Symbol | Ammeter is denoted by A | The voltmeter is denoted by V |
| Resistance range | Ammeter has low resistance | The voltmeter has high resistance |
| Changing the range | Ammeter does not allow to change the range | Voltmeter allows you to change the range |
| Connection | Ammeter is connected in series | The voltmeter is connected in parallel |
What is Ammeter?
Ammeter is a measuring instrument used to measure the current by connecting in series in the circuit. It can measure both the direct and alternating current in the circuit. The ammeter measures the current in amperes. The microcurrent is denoted by microamperes. The symbol of the ammeter is A. The ammeter has low resistance. It is connected in series with a galvanometer to measure the current. The ammeter is a device or instrument that measures the current.
Depending on the principles and accuracies, the ammeter’s value gets changed. From 0.1 to 2.0 accuracy, the ammeter measured the current through D’Arsonal movement. The ammeter is also present in electrodynamic motors. The electrodynamic motor ammeter has a fixed coil and a moving coil. The electrodynamic ammeter measures the current from 0,1 to 0.25 accuracies. The thermal ammeter measures from 0.5 to 3 accuracies.
A short circuit is produced when the ammeter is connected in parallel to the circuit. The resistance will be zero for an ideal ammeter, and it is impossible to produce an ideal ammeter. If you are using an ammeter, you must be aware of the shunt resistance. The shunt resistance will break the entire circuit. Multi-range ammeter has been available in recent days. Digital ammeter is the popular one which causes no wastage.
What is Voltmeter?
The voltmeter is a measuring instrument used to measure the voltage by connecting parallel to the circuit. If you connect the voltmeter in series with the circuit, a short circuit will be caused. The voltmeter is created by connecting a high resistance with a galvanometer in parallel in the circuit. The voltmeter has recently been available in a wide range of models. Any changes in the voltage will be shown in the display of the voltmeter.
The general purpose voltmeters have a range from small to several thousand. Like an ammeter, the voltmeter is also available in digital. Digital voltmeters have a high level of accuracy. Laboratory voltmeters always have special capabilities. It measures almost per million things. The western cell is a standard usage of a voltmeter for precision work. The western cell has perfect voltage measurement makes a better electronic circuit.
There are three types of voltmeters have been available in recent years. They are an analog voltmeter, an amplified voltmeter, and a digital voltmeter. All the voltmeters work behind a similar concept. But the production of the three voltmeters is different from one other. On the three, digital voltmeters are preferred by many people.
Main Differences Between Ammeter and Voltmeter
- The flow of current is measured by an ammeter, and a voltmeter measures the voltage of the current.
- The accuracy of measurement is more in the ammeter when compared to the voltmeter.
- The resistance is zero in the ideal ammeter and infinite in the ideal voltmeter, but both are impossible in reality.
- In the circuit, the ammeter is denoted by A, and the voltmeter is denoted by V.
- The ammeter is created by connecting small resistance with the galvanometer in parallel, and by connecting high resistance in series with the galvanometer voltmeter is created.
- https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9780691218120-012/html
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7973559/
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
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