Electricity: How Current Works

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of electric current in a circuit involving an ammeter and a voltmeter, particularly focusing on how the readings of these instruments are affected when the voltmeter is connected in parallel and allows current to flow through it. The scope includes theoretical considerations, circuit analysis, and implications for homework or coursework problems.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the current measured by the ammeter remains the same when current flows through the voltmeter, suggesting that while current splits, it may not return to the same value.
  • Another participant proposes that the readings of the ammeter and voltmeter could be affected by the configuration of the circuit, particularly noting that the voltmeter's resistance impacts the total circuit resistance and current.
  • There is a suggestion to apply Kirchhoff's Rule to analyze the circuit, with an intuitive expectation that the ammeter reading should decrease due to the conservation of charge at the split.
  • A participant discusses the implications of the voltmeter's resistance changing from infinite to a finite value, raising questions about how this affects the voltmeter reading and whether it should increase or decrease based on Ohm's Law (V=IR).
  • Another participant expresses confusion about the relationship between the voltmeter reading and the current flowing through it, questioning the conditions under which the voltmeter reading decreases compared to when no current flows through it.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on how the readings of the ammeter and voltmeter are affected by the current flowing through the voltmeter. There is no consensus on the correct interpretation of the readings or the underlying principles, indicating that multiple competing views remain.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the limitations of using V=IR in certain scenarios and the need for a circuit diagram to clarify the setup. There is also a mention of the potential for confusion regarding the definitions and assumptions related to the voltmeter's resistance.

vadevalor
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Refer to my third post :) clearer and the picture in my second post
 
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vadevalor said:
If current flows through a voltmeter in parallel first then it flows back to an ammeter -- any effect on the ammeter and voltmeter reading? (Do they increase or decrease?)
I would assume current measured by the ammeter is the same as when no current flows through the voltmeter, because although current splits before the voltmeter, the current is added up when it leaves the point of split and heads for the ammeter. But i suspect this is not true.

Also, I only rely on using V=IR, but it doesn't work sometimes, so are there other equations to use if this doesn't work?(as in it doesn't prove the increase or decrease)

This is extremely vague. "current ... flows BACK to an ammeter"?

Spend some time producing a circuit diagram and post it here!

Furthermore, if this is part of a HW/Coursework question, please do it in the HW/Coursework forum.

Zz.
 
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1353862200.082398.jpg


Its a simple setup as shown( this is what i thought of so it's not a homework qn)
I put arrows to show a case where current will flow through the voltmeter ( unlike normal case where an ideal voltmeter has an infinite resistance and assumed to have no current through it)
 
You might want to look up Kirchoff's Rule, also. I think you are trying to ask what the ammeter readings will be in that circuit diagram, it can be answered by the said computational method. Intuitively, at the split, the current reading should be lower, this is a direct consequence of the law of conservation of charges.
 
The voltmeter in parallel to the load will indeed decrease the total circuit resistance thus increasing circuit current. Also the Ammeter will have a small resistance in series with the load decreasing the circuit current. To compute the total circuit current you will need to know the resistance of your meters then just compute the total circuit resistance.
 
Comparing a case when no current flow through the voltmeter and when current flows through it -- why would there be an decrease in the reading of the voltmeter from the former to the latter case?

Using V=IR, when I increases due to current flowing through voltmeter but initially there us none, the voltmeter reading should increase.

Using the same equation V=IR, when resistance of the voltmeter has decreased(no longer infinite resistance voltmeter to allow current to flow through it) then considering that factor alone the voltmeter reading should decrease.

Why is the latter case the correct one?- where voltmeter reading decrease (to be less than the emf) from a case of no current through voltmeter to a case where there is current through the voltmeter (the explanation or formula used may be wrong)
And i may have to rephrase my first qn- would the ammeter reading change from a case where no voltmeter is attached and the circuit is in series to a case where a voltmeter is attached as shown above and current PASSES through it?
 

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