What device measures voltage and is typically connected in parallel to a component?

A voltmeter is specifically designed to measure the electrical potential difference, or voltage, between two points in an electrical circuit. To accurately measure this voltage, it must be connected in parallel with the component across which the voltage is being measured. This parallel configuration allows the voltmeter to read the full voltage drop without affecting the overall circuit operation significantly.

Connecting the voltmeter in parallel ensures that it measures the voltage as intended without significantly altering the current flow through the component. The design of a voltmeter includes a high internal resistance, which minimizes the current that flows through it, thereby allowing for an accurate voltage reading.

In contrast, devices such as an ammeter, which measures current, must be connected in series to the circuit, and an ohmmeter, which measures resistance, requires disconnection of the circuit and operates separately. A galvanometer, while capable of measuring small currents and indicating voltage indirectly, is not typically used as a primary voltage measuring device in the same way as a voltmeter. Thus, the voltmeter remains the principal instrument for voltage measurement in electrical circuits.