Which instrument is used to measure current in a circuit?

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Multiple Choice

Which instrument is used to measure current in a circuit?

Explanation:
To measure current, you need an instrument that carries the same current as the circuit, so you place it in series with the load. An ammeter is designed for this purpose and has very low internal resistance, so it doesn’t noticeably affect the current flowing in the circuit. A voltmeter, by contrast, is connected in parallel across a component and has high resistance, so it measures voltage rather than current. An ohmmeter is used to measure resistance by injecting a small current when the circuit is powered off. A wattmeter measures power (voltage times current) and is not used to measure current alone. Therefore, the instrument used to measure current is the ammeter.

To measure current, you need an instrument that carries the same current as the circuit, so you place it in series with the load. An ammeter is designed for this purpose and has very low internal resistance, so it doesn’t noticeably affect the current flowing in the circuit. A voltmeter, by contrast, is connected in parallel across a component and has high resistance, so it measures voltage rather than current. An ohmmeter is used to measure resistance by injecting a small current when the circuit is powered off. A wattmeter measures power (voltage times current) and is not used to measure current alone. Therefore, the instrument used to measure current is the ammeter.

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