The voltmeter utilized to determine the potential difference. It has a very high and limited resistance. The potentiometer, on the other hand, has a the highest and infinity resistance. Many differences between the potentiometer and voltmeter listed in the table below.
Difference between potentiometer and voltmeter
A potentiometer is a three terminal measuring device used to measure the unknown EMF of a source (such as a cell) by comparing it with a known EMF. The voltmeter two terminal measuring device which used to determine the potential difference (or voltage) between any two terminals in an electric circuit.
Potentiometer Vs Voltmeter
| Voltmeter | Potentiometer |
| Its resistance is high and finite | Its resistance is high and infinite |
| It draws some current from emf source | It does not draw any electric current from the source of emf |
| Potential difference measured by it is less then the actual potential difference | Potential difference measured by it is equal to actual potential difference |
| It has low sensitivity | It has high sensitivity |
| It is a versatile instrument | It measures only emf or potential difference |
| It is based on the deflection method | It is based on the zero deflection method |
What is a Potentiometer?
Potentiometer a three-terminal measurement instrument that measures the unidentified EMF (or the voltage) through comparing the measurement to an existing EMF (or the voltage). Its also known as a ‘ Pot or potmeter‘.
The basic principle of this type of potentiometer states that the potential drop that occurs across any portion of the cable is proportional to its length as long as the wire has a uniform cross-section area and regular electric current flows through it. But, other types of potentiometers are available.
A typical potentiometer comprises a cable with a regular cross-section. Its divided into multiple pieces. They put side-by-side and connected to the ends by an extensive copper strip. The copper strip transforms the two wires into one wire.
The most commonly used application for the potentiometer used to measure the EMF and internal resistance of the cell.
What is a Voltmeter?
A Voltmeter an electrical measurement instrument utilized to determine the voltage variation or voltage that exists between two points within electrical circuits. The term voltmeter can also referred to as a your voltage-meter since it is a measure of voltage within electrical circuits.
To measure the voltage or potential difference across an electronic device the voltmeter must connected in parallel with the device. The voltmeter connected parallel with the circuit , so there is a similar voltage drop happens across it.
A perfect voltmeter will have unlimited internal resistance. However, its internal resistance for an actual voltage meter isn’t infinity but it is high. The high resistance of a device due to the fact that used for measuring of voltage between the two terminals of a circuit i.e. the large voltage of the voltmeter can limit the flow of current through it. The entire flow of current will pass through the load, and the voltmeter will take the right reading of the voltage flowing through the device.
Based on the way in which they used to display the reading, the voltmeters can be classified into two kinds namely. digital voltmeter (shows the reading using the deflection of a pointer) as well as digital voltage meter (shows what’s happening on a seven-segment electronic display).
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