Why is an ammeter is always connected in series with the circuit?

Answer 1

When considering electricity,

Current (measured in Amps) is often considered the flow of energy.

The force behind the flow is the Volts.

While the volts can be measured between any two points in the circuit (open, or closed), measuring the current, or flow of energy typically requires interrupting the flow.

Somewhat like water. One can measure pressure of the water on a branch, but one must have a way to monitor the actual flow to determine how much water has passed.

There are "exceptions" though.

If you have an AC circuit, then an inductive ammeter can measure the amps around a single leg if the circuit without being installed inline with the circuit.

Even with a DC circuit, it may be desirable to design a bypass or shunt circuit so that the majority of the current bypasses the ammeter, and only a small amount of the current actually flows through the ammeter.

Answer 2

A fundamental property of a series circuit is the current is the same anywhere in the circuit. By inserting the ammeter in series with the load, you guarantee that the current measured by the meter is the same as the current through the load (which is what you are trying to measure). If you were to connect the ammeter in parallel with the load, you would be creating a second current path, from the supply, through the ammeter, and back to the supply. The reading you get (which would be quite high, since you just created a short circuit!) would have nothing to do with the load current, and thus be meaningless.

Answer 3

You connect ammeters in series with the circuit you are checking because of Kirchoff's Current Law, which states that the signed sum of the currents entering a node is zero. A consequence of this law is that the current in any point in a series circuit is the same.

You cannot measure the current going through a circuit without being in that circuit, hence the need to be in series with that circuit.

Answer 4

If an ammeter is put in parallel then the current will split at a ratio dependent on the resistance of the other branch; knowing that resistance requires another redundant measurement. Basically that is the only way to measure current. In parallel each will have its own current reading that add up.

Answer 5

An ammeter is connected in series with the circuit because the purpose of the ammeter is to measure the current through the circuit. Since the ammeter is a low impedance device, connecting it in parallel with the circuit would cause a short circuit, damaging the ammeter and/or the circuit.
1) It should be connected in series, so that maximum current can pass through it, for accurate measurement of current. 2) its resistance is very low, if it is connected in parallel in a circuit, it will by the current, and current can not be measured accurately.
if you do not connect the ammeter in series you will shunt the load, basically excluding the resistive element of the circuit.

Answer 6

Using a water analogy, the electrical current (amperage) is equivalant to the water current flowing through a pipe. If you want to measure the amount of water flowing through a pipe, you have to put a flowmeter in series with the pipe, in a similar way, to measure the current flowing through a wire, you have to put an electrical flowmeter (or ammeter) in series with the wire.

Answer 7

You are measuring the flow of charge so you need to insert the meter in such a way that the current flows through the meter. There are clamp-on amp meters that measure flow by inducing a current in a coil that is proportional to the flow in the wire.

Answer 8

An ammeter (amp + meter) is connected in series so that the current flows through the meter, where the flow can be measured.

A voltmeter is connected in parallel ("across") with a device in a circuit to determine the voltage drop from one point to another, regardless of what the current flow might be.

Answer 9

when using an ammeter, why should you place it in parellel with the circuit?

Answer 10

Connecting an ampmeter in parallel with the load will give you no reading. Its connected in series. And make sure the load its not above the meters capabilities or kiss your meter good bye