Use of an Analog Ammeter

When connecting the ammeter into a circuit,
make certain that the current (flowing from the positive
terminal of the battery or power supply) flows into the
positive terminal on the ammeter. To measure the
current flowing through a circuit, the ammeter must be
connected directly into the circuit, in serieswith the
other components. That way, all the current flows
through the meter!

For our ammeters, each terminal is labeled with
the maximum current it can handle. Currents larger
than the labeled values can damage the meter, so always
start measuring currents using the terminal with the
largest rating (10 A).

If the pointer moves to the extreme right at any
time, disconnect the meter (or the power supply)
immediately to avoid damage.

R₃

Measuring the current I
through R¹
1