Cathodic Protection Tester Practice Exam

What type of reading is a voltmeter designed to take?

1. Series readings

2. Parallel readings

3. Voltage readings

4. Current readings

The correct answer is: Voltage readings

A voltmeter is specifically designed to measure the electrical potential difference, or voltage, across two points in an electrical circuit. This device operates based on the principle of measuring the electromotive force, which is indicative of how much electric potential energy is present to push current through the circuit. When connected properly, the voltmeter allows users to determine how much voltage is available to drive current through a load. The measurement is important in various applications, including analyzing the performance of a cathodic protection system, where understanding voltage levels can help assess the effectiveness of corrosion prevention techniques. The other options relate to different aspects of electrical measurements. Series readings pertain to measurements taken in a single path or loop, typically for current. Parallel readings deal with measuring across branches in a circuit. Current readings focus on the flow of electric charge, which is not the function of a voltmeter. Therefore, the characteristic and intended function of a voltmeter directly aligns with measuring voltage, making that the correct choice.