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Introduction to SAT II Physics - FreeExamPapers

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Now that we know the current across each resis<strong>to</strong>r, calculating the power dissipated is a<br />

straightforward application of the formula P = I 2 R:<br />

Common Devices in Circuits<br />

In real life (and on <strong>SAT</strong> <strong>II</strong> <strong>Physics</strong>) it is possible <strong>to</strong> hook devices up <strong>to</strong> a circuit that will<br />

read off the potential difference or current at a certain point in the circuit. These devices<br />

provide <strong>SAT</strong> <strong>II</strong> <strong>Physics</strong> with a handy means of testing your knowledge of circuits.<br />

Voltmeters and Ammeters<br />

A voltmeter, designated:<br />

measures the voltage across a wire. It is connected in parallel with the stretch of wire<br />

whose voltage is being measured, since an equal voltage crosses both branches of two<br />

wires connected in parallel.<br />

An ammeter, designated:<br />

is connected in series. It measures the current passing through that point on the circuit.<br />

EXAMPLE<br />

In the diagram above, = 9 V, = 5 , = 5 , and = 20 . What are the values<br />

measured by the ammeter and the voltmeter?<br />

WHAT DOES THE AMMETER READ?<br />

Since the ammeter is not connected in parallel with any other branch in the circuit, the<br />

reading on the ammeter will be the <strong>to</strong>tal current in the circuit. We can use Ohm’s Law <strong>to</strong><br />

determine the <strong>to</strong>tal current in the circuit, but only if we first determine the <strong>to</strong>tal<br />

resistance in the circuit.<br />

230

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