Question

A voltmeter of resistance 400 Ω is used to measure the potential difference across the 100 Ω resistor in the circuit shown in the figure. (a) What will be the reading of the voltmeter? (b) What was the potential difference across 100 Ω before the voltmeter was connected?

Answer 1

(a) The effective resistance of the circuit,

\[R_{eff} = \frac{100 \times 400}{500} + 200 = 280 \Omega\]

The current through the circuit,

\[i = \frac{84}{280} = 0 . 3 A\]

Since 100 Ω resistor and 400 Ω resistor are connected in parallel, the potential difference will be same across their ends. Let the current through 100 Ω resistor be i₁ ; then, the current through 400 Ω resistor will be i - i₁.

\[100 i_1 = 400\left( i - i_1 \right)\]

\[ \Rightarrow 500 i_1 = 400i\]

\[ \Rightarrow i_i = \frac{4}{5}i = 0 . 24 A\]

The reading of the voltmeter = 100 × 0.24 = 24 V

(b) Before the voltmeter is connected, the two resistors 100 Ω resistor and 200 Ω resistor are in series.

The effective resistance of the circuit,

\[R_{eff} = \left( 200 + 100 \right)\]

\[ = 300 \Omega\]

The current through the circuit,

\[i = \frac{84}{300} = 0 . 28 A\]

∴ Voltage across the 100 Ω resistor = (0.28 × 100) = 28 V