Final answer:
A voltmeter should be connected in parallel with the device being measured in a circuit. This ensures that very little current flows through the voltmeter and that the circuit remains largely unchanged. For example, in a simple circuit with a light bulb and a battery, the voltmeter would be connected in parallel with the light bulb.
Step-by-step explanation:
How to properly connect a voltmeter in a circuit
A voltmeter should be connected in parallel with the device being measured. This means that one lead of the voltmeter is connected to the positive terminal of the device, and the other lead is connected to the negative terminal. By connecting the voltmeter in parallel, very little current flows through it, as long as its resistance is much greater than the device being measured. This ensures that the circuit remains largely unchanged when the voltmeter is properly connected.
For example, if you have a simple circuit with a light bulb and a battery, you would connect the voltmeter in parallel with the light bulb. The positive lead of the voltmeter would be connected to one side of the light bulb, and the negative lead would be connected to the other side. This allows the voltmeter to measure the voltage across the light bulb without significantly affecting the current flowing through the circuit.