A student constructs a simple circuit consisting of an ideal 9.0\,V battery and a single 100Ω carbon resistor connected by ideal wires. The student then inserts a real ammeter, whose internal resistance is 1.0Ω, in series with the resistor to measure the current.
Answer the following questions about the qualitative impact of the ammeter on the circuit’s behavior.
(a) Describe qualitatively how the presence of the ammeter changes the current in the circuit compared with the current that would exist if no ammeter were present.
(b) Explain whether the current reading displayed by the ammeter is greater than, less than, or equal to the true current that would flow through the resistor in the absence of the ammeter. Justify your answer in terms of series resistance and potential difference.
(c) Discuss why practical ammeters are designed to have very small internal resistance. In your explanation, include how reducing internal resistance affects both the accuracy of current measurements and the operation of the remainder of the circuit.