# Explain why a digital ammeter is more suitable than an analogue ammeter when measuring a very small current of a few milliamps in a circuit.

> Cambridge International IGCSE Physics (0625) — 4.2 Electrical quantities · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. A digital ammeter can measure currents over a much smaller range (milliamps or microamps)
2. An analogue ammeter typically measures over a larger range (e.g. 0.1–5 A), so a few milliamps would give a reading too small to read accurately on the scale
3. A digital ammeter displays the measurement directly on a display, giving a precise numerical reading
4. Using an ammeter whose range gives a reading in the middle of its range avoids damage and gives the most reliable measurement, and the digital ammeter's small range achieves this for milliamp currents

## Key terms

- [digital ammeter](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/digital-ammeter)
- [analogue ammeter](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/analogue-ammeter)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-why-a-digital-ammeter-is-7927512e) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.