PARTS AND MATERIALS - Multimeter, digital or analog - Assorted
batteries - One light-emitting diode (Radio Shack catalog #
276-026 or equivalent) - Small "hobby" motor, permanent-magnet
type (Radio Shack catalog # 273-223 or equivalent) - Two jumper
wires with "alligator clip" ends (Radio Shack catalog #
278-1156, 278-1157, or equivalent) A multimeter is an electrical
instrument capable of measuring voltage, current, and
resistance. Digital multimeters have numerical displays, like
digital clocks, for indicating the quantity of voltage, current,
or resistance. Analog multimeters indicate these quantities by
means of a moving pointer over a printed scale. Analog
multimeters tend to be less expensive than digital multimeters,
and more beneficial as learning tools for the first-time student
of electricity. I strongly recommend purchasing an analog
multimeter before purchasing a digital multimeter, but to
eventually have both in your tool kit for these experiments.
Lessons In Electric Circuits, Volume 1, chapter