Exploration 30.5: Voltmeters

Please wait for the animation to completely load.

A voltmeter measures the voltage across a circuit element and therefore is put in parallel with that element.   We can construct a voltmeter by placing a large resistor in series with the galvanometer indicated by (an ammeter symbol) in the circuit because a galvanometer and an ammeter are essentially the same (see Exploration 30.4).   In this example the galvanometer shows a full-scale indication at a current of 1 μA, and the internal resistance of the galvanometer is 0.2 Ω. 

1. What voltage across the galvanometer produces a full-scale reading?

If we want to measure battery voltages of up to 2 V, we'd want the galvanometer needle to give a full-scale indication at this voltage.  This means that 0.2 μV must drop across the galvanometer (with a current of 1 μA), while 1.9999998 V must drop across the series resistor.  Restart.

2. Calculate the value of the series resistor required to produce a full-scale reading when the input voltage is 2 V.  Test to see if you get the appropriate reading for a range of battery voltages. (Use the "set values" button.)   Specifically, check that, for a battery voltage of 1 V, you get a half-scale reading on the indicator bar.
3. What would the ideal value of internal resistance for a voltmeter be and why?

Exploration authored by Anne J. Cox.
Instructor's Resource CD Edition: Do not post or distribute.
The complete version of Physlet Physics is available as a text with CD; Physlet Physics can be bundled with this Prentice Hall textbook.
© 2004 by Prentice-Hall, Inc. A Pearson Company