An ammeter measures electric current in a circuit using a variety of principles, including:
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Magnetic fieldAn ammeter detects variations in the magnetic field around a coil or wire to measure the current. The strength of the magnetic field changes based on the current’s magnitude.
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Low resistanceAn ammeter has low resistance so that it doesn’t cause a significant voltage drop in the circuit. This allows the current to pass through the ammeter and be measured.
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ShuntAn ammeter contains a small wire called a shunt that measures a small portion of the current. This creates a small voltage that the ammeter uses to calculate the current reading. The more current that passes through the wire, the higher the reading on the ammeter.
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Series connectionAn ammeter is connected in series with the circuit so that the current passes through it. This is because the current in a series circuit is the same.
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FuseAn ammeter has a built-in fuse to protect it from heavy currents. If the fuse breaks, the ammeter can’t measure current until the fuse is replaced.
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