Brown, it is not like this hasn't been discussed or given so much thought. It is a very old problem. It has been beaten to death. The answer is just like I explained. It is like asking what is the largest number. You can't really answer that because you can always add 1 to it and it will just grow larger. You see my point? Here you should stop thinking math, and start thinking logic.
As for the circuit, you can go and try it. If you have an Ammeter, you can hook it in parallel with a 1.5v battery....it will just be like connecting the ammeter in series with a resistance of zero. Better yet, if you have a scope, you can do the same and make graphs for the voltage and current vs time. Do it and tell us what happens ^_^ ........The result can be predicted.
Too bad the ammeter has an internal resistance though.
I could not disagree more. The concepts are very important and have wide ranging applications. The discussion started as a theoritical electrical question, and was discussed from the standpoint of what is logical. But the math, while abstract, proves the point and is a foundation for thinking about these kinds of problems. And as someone has pointed out, there exists technology wherein the resistance becomes almost nothing, and these techniques are helpful for undertanding the technology.
You can't use an ammeter to measure the system, because per the OP, the system was assumed to be ideal. You ony have logic and the underlying math to count on.
As for being "beaten to death" this in nothing compared to other topics. I have the patience to go over this as much as needed so we understand it. Those who don't have the patience don't have to read.
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