If the leads of a voltmeter placed on Terminals of a switch indicate 0 volts, what does this mean about the status of the switch?

When a voltmeter indicates 0 volts when placed across the terminals of a switch, it means that there is no voltage present, which is typically the case when the switch is open. An open switch serves as an interruption in the circuit, preventing current from flowing. In this condition, since there is no electrical potential difference, the voltmeter will display 0 volts.

The absence of voltage indicates that the circuit is not complete, which is the fundamental behavior of an open switch. It is essential to understand that a closed switch would allow current to flow, thereby resulting in a measurable voltage across the voltmeter. The voltmeter reading can also rule out the possibility of the switch being faulty, as a faulty switch may produce unexpected voltage readings rather than a consistent 0 volts. Therefore, the reading of 0 volts definitively indicates that the switch is open.