Which statement correctly distinguishes a voltmeter from an ammeter?

• A. Voltmeter measures current; ammeter measures voltage.
• B. Voltmeter measures impedance; ammeter measures frequency.
• C. Voltmeter measures voltage; ammeter measures current.
• D. Voltmeter measures resistance; ammeter measures power.

Answer: (C)

In circuit measurements, you read different quantities with different meters and connect them so they don’t disturb the circuit. A voltmeter is used to measure the voltage across a component, so it’s connected in parallel with that component. It has high internal resistance to draw as little current as possible, which helps keep the circuit behavior unchanged while you measure the potential difference.

An ammeter, on the other hand, measures the current flowing through a component, so it’s placed in series with that part of the circuit. It has very low internal resistance to minimize the voltage drop and avoid altering the current.

That combination—the voltmeter reading voltage, the ammeter reading current—matches how these instruments are designed to function. The other statements mix up what each meter measures or point to quantities (like impedance, frequency, resistance, or power) that aren’t what these meters read directly.