Prepare for the Automotive Service Technician Period 1 exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

If a resistor in a circuit is shorted, an ammeter in the circuit would indicate which of the following?

Shorting a resistor creates a path of almost zero resistance, bypassing the resistor. With a fixed supply voltage, lowering the circuit’s total resistance lets more current flow (I = V/R). An ammeter in the circuit will then read a higher current than when the resistor was present. The voltage across the short is nearly zero, since the current takes the easy path around the resistor. So the correct reading is more current than normal.

Shorting a resistor creates a path of almost zero resistance, bypassing the resistor. With a fixed supply voltage, lowering the circuit’s total resistance lets more current flow (I = V/R). An ammeter in the circuit will then read a higher current than when the resistor was present. The voltage across the short is nearly zero, since the current takes the easy path around the resistor. So the correct reading is more current than normal.