TALLINN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, DIVISION OF PHYSICS

1. GENERAL MEASUREMENTS

1. Objective
Familiarisation with vernier. Utilization of calliper and micrometer on the measurement of
length.

2. Equipment needed
Calliper, micrometer, measurable objects (plate and tube)

3. Theory
3.1. Vernier
A lot of measuring systems like calliper, micrometer, goniometer etc have scales parallel to
the moving part. It has been drawn a measuring stroke by which you can determine the
location of a moving part. The congruity of the measuring stroke with some of the stroke of
measuring scale can be fixed fairly accurately. If the measuring stroke does not match the
scale, then the finding of reading is less accurate. To improve the accuracy the vernier caliper
is provided with additionally scale. It runs from the measuring stroke that way where the
reading of ground scale are growing. This scale is called vernier.
The length of division an of the vernier caliper is usually chosen by a/n shorter from the
length of division a of main scale, where n is a number of divisions of vernier.
a
The magnitude T  a  an  is called an accuracy of vernier.
n
How to take the reading from calliper:
First find the millimeter mark on the fixed scale that is just to the left of the 0-mark on the
vernier scale (see figure 1.1 b). Let it be marked with M. Then count the number of divisions
N until you get to the division that lines up with the main metric scale. This number is
multiplied by the accuracy T of vernier.
Measured value is found by the formula L = M+NT

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 TALLINN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, DIVISION OF PHYSICS

measuring scale

vernier

Figure 1.1

3.2. Calliper
A calliper is used for measuring length. An ordinary calliper (see figure 1.2) has jaws which
can place around an object, and on the other side jaws made to fit inside an object. These
secondary jaws are for measuring the inside diameter of an object. In most cases, the
correction, such as 10 mm which is marked on jaw, must be added to the scale readings.
Calliper sliding frame is provided with rod for measuring the depth of objects. The accuracy
of vernier is typically 0.1 mm or 0.05 mm.

1- Outside jaws: used to take external measures of objects

2 - Inside jaws: used to take internal measures of objects

3 - Depth rod: used to measure the depth of objects

4 - Main scale (cm)

5 - Main scale (inch)

6 - Vernier (cm)

7 - Vernier (inch)

8 - Retainer: used to block movable part

Figure 1.2 Calliper

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 TALLINN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, DIVISION OF PHYSICS

3.3. Micrometer
A micrometer also called micrometer screw-gauge (see figure 1.3) allows a measurement of
the size of an object more precisely than vernier calliper. It consists of a hollow cylinder
mounted on a U frame. The U frame consists of a flat end known as stud and a screw on the
other side. This screw can be moved inside the nut by fitted in the U frame by rotating the
hollow cylinder called the thimble. The ratchet is provided to avoid excessive pressure on the
measured object. It prevents the spindle from further movement - squashing the object!
The measuring surfaces (anvil and spindle) must be turned towards using only the ratchet
(clutch) until the ratchet starts to slip. Only now the reading can be found. Whereas, the full-
millimeters and half-millimeters are found on the sleeve (main scale) but hundredths are
found on the thimble (rotating scale).

RATCHET

Figure 1.3 Micrometer

4. Experimental procedure
Measurements with vernier calliper
1. Determine the accuracy of vernier.
2. Record the zero-reading of calliper and take it into consideration when finding the final
results.
3. Measure the thickness of the plate. In order to do so, place the object between the
measuring jaws, push them tightly close to the plate and find the reading. Repeat the
measurements in ten different places of plate and find the average plate thickness d and its
combined uncertainty.
4. Measure the internal and external diameters of the tube (cylinder) in ten different places.
Calculate the average diameters and their combined uncertainties.
5. Calculate the cross-sectional area of the tube and its combined uncertainty.

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 TALLINN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, DIVISION OF PHYSICS

Measurements with micrometer

Record all the measurement results into data tables like this:

Table 1.1
The measurement of the internal diameter of the tube by calliper nr………..
The accuracy of the vernier T = ………mm, zero reading = ……. .mm

Trials nr. di , mm d  di , mm (d  d i )2 , mm2

1
2
3
…
10

d = ……

5. Questions
1. What is called measurement?
2. Whyfor the vernier is used?
3. How to determine the accuracy of vernier?
4. What is the combined uncertainty when taking the reading from vernier?
5. How to take the reading by vernier?
6. How to find the combined uncertainty to the volume of the cylinder?
7. What characterize the relative uncertainty?
8. The accuracy of vernier is 0.05 mm and the value of the length is 5.35 mm. What is the B-
type uncertainty and combined uncertainty?
9. How is determined the accuracy of micrometer?
10. Why a micrometer is equipped with a ratchet?
11. How to find the zero reading?
12. What is the accuracy of vernier and what numbers could be written to the strokes?

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 TALLINN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, DIVISION OF PHYSICS

13. What is the reading?

6. Literature
Halliday, D., Resnick, R., Walker J. Fundamentals of Physics – 8th ed. Hoboken (N. J.), John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2008, ch. 1.