Question

Suppose you are using a multimeter (one designed to measure a range of voltages, currents, and resistances) to measure current in a circuit and you inadvertently leave it in a voltmeter mode. What effect will the meter have on the circuit? What would happen if you were measuring voltage but accidentally put the meter in the ammeter mode?

a) Leaving the multimeter in voltmeter mode when measuring current will increase the current in the circuit. Accidentally putting the meter in ammeter mode when measuring voltage will result in a lower voltage reading.

b) Leaving the multimeter in voltmeter mode when measuring current will decrease the current in the circuit. Accidentally putting the meter in ammeter mode when measuring voltage will result in a higher voltage reading.

c) Leaving the multimeter in voltmeter mode when measuring current will have no effect on the circuit. Accidentally putting the meter in ammeter mode when measuring voltage will result in a short circuit.

d) Leaving the multimeter in voltmeter mode when measuring current will burn out the meter. Accidentally putting the meter in ammeter mode when measuring voltage will have no effect on the reading.

Answer 1

Leaving the multimeter in voltmeter mode when measuring current will have no effect on the circuit. Accidentally putting the meter in ammeter mode when measuring voltage will result in a short circuit. Hence, option (c) is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

Leaving the multimeter in voltmeter mode when measuring current will have no effect on the circuit. Accidentally putting the meter in ammeter mode when measuring voltage will result in a short circuit.

When using a multimeter in voltmeter mode to measure current, the meter acts as a very high resistance in series with the circuit. This high resistance does not allow any significant current to flow through the meter, so it does not alter the circuit.

On the other hand, if you accidentally put the meter in ammeter mode when measuring voltage, the ammeter acts as a very low resistance in parallel with the circuit. This low resistance allows a large amount of current to flow through the meter, creating a short circuit and potentially damaging the meter.