---
title: "A student uses a voltmeter to measure the potential difference across a resistor in an operating DC circuit. Which of the following statements correctly identifies the desired internal resistance of an ideal voltmeter and provides the correct physical justification?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120381/"
date_modified: "2026-08-23T04:34:24+00:00"
---

# A student uses a voltmeter to measure the potential difference across a resistor in an operating DC circuit. Which of the following statements correctly identifies the desired internal resistance of an ideal voltmeter and provides the correct physical justification?

A student uses a voltmeter to measure the potential difference across a resistor in an operating DC circuit. Which of the following statements correctly identifies the desired internal resistance of an ideal voltmeter and provides the correct physical justification?

![A schematic diagram of a rectangular direct-current circuit. On the left vertical wire, a battery symbol is shown, labeled \(\mathcal{E}\). On the top horizontal wire, a fixed resistor is labeled \(R_1\). On the right vertical wire, a second fixed resistor is labeled \(R_2\). Two wire leads branch off from above and below resistor \(R_2\) to connect in parallel with a circle containing the uppercase letter \(V\). The bottom horizontal wire connects the right vertical wire back to the negative terminal of the battery. No other labels, lines, meters, or text appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1787459664-gwXiUv.jpg)

- **A.** The voltmeter should have a very small internal resistance because it is connected in series with the resistor and should not significantly reduce the total current in the circuit.
- **B.** The voltmeter should have a very large internal resistance because it is connected in parallel with the resistor and should draw negligible current from the branch.
- **C.** The voltmeter should have a very small internal resistance because it is connected in parallel with the resistor and must allow maximum current to pass through the meter.
- **D.** The voltmeter should have a very large internal resistance because it is connected in series with the resistor and must produce a large potential drop across itself.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/120381/*