Difference Between Potentiometer And Voltmeter

tl;dr
The main difference between a potentiometer and a voltmeter is that a potentiometer adjusts the resistance of the circuit to measure voltage, while a voltmeter measures the current flowing through the circuit.

Difference Between Potentiometer And Voltmeter

A potentiometer is an adjustable resistor used to measure voltage, current, or resistance. It consists of a resistive element, usually a wire wound around a core, with a sliding contact (the wiper) that moves along the element to change its resistance. A voltmeter is an instrument used to measure electrical potential difference between two points in an electrical circuit. It consists of a galvanometer connected in series with a resistance. The resistance is adjusted so that the galvanometer reads zero when the two points are at the same potential. The difference in potential between the two points causes a current to flow in the circuit, which the galvanometer measures.

The main difference between a potentiometer and a voltmeter is the way in which they measure voltage. A potentiometer measures voltage by adjusting the resistance of the circuit, while a voltmeter measures voltage by measuring the current flowing through the circuit. Additionally, a potentiometer is used to measure both AC and DC voltages, while a voltmeter is only used to measure DC voltages.

In summary, a potentiometer is an adjustable resistor used to measure voltage, current, or resistance, while a voltmeter is an instrument used to measure electrical potential difference between two points in an electrical circuit. The main difference between the two is the way in which they measure voltage, with a potentiometer adjusting the resistance of the circuit and a voltmeter measuring the current flowing through the circuit.