Engineering Measurement

1. Explain Metric and give examples.

a. is a way of measuring things using units based on multiples of 10. It makes calculations
easier because everything is divided or multiplied by 10.

e.g. Meter, gram, second

2. Explain Standard system and give examples.

a. is a system of measurement used mainly in the United States. It is like the Imperial
System, but with some differences in volume measurements

e.g. Fl oz, 1 cup, ounce, lb.

3. What is measurement units and give examples

a. are standardized quantities used to express physical properties such as length, weight,
volume, and time.

e.g. Metric, Imperial and Standard system

A. The output from the measurand.

a. Primary Sensor (e.g. thermometer, strain
gauge)
b. Secondary Sensor – measure environmental conditions to correct primary sensor output.
B. Converts the output to a more convenient form. (e.g. displacement-measuring strain gauge:
output resistance >> converted to voltage)
C. Improve the quality of the output.
D. Needed when the output is some distance away.
E. Records the output data for tracking.

Measurement System Applications

• Regulating trade: applying instruments that measures physical quantities.

• Monitoring functions: provide info that enables human beings to take some prescribed actions.
• Automatic feedback control system
Instrument Types

• Active
o Definition: Requires external power source and amplifies measured E.g. Strain gauge
o Advantages: Higher sensitivity, more accurate readings, can be used in harsh
environments.
o Disadvantages: Required External power, more complex design
• Passive
o Definition: Generates output purely from the measured quantity without needing external
power. E.g. thermometer
o Advantages: Simple & Reliable, Lower cost, long lifespan
o Disadvantages: Limited accuracy, lower sensitivity.
• Deflection
o Definition: The measured quantity is displayed as the movement of a pointer or other
indicator. E.g. Analog Voltmeter, spring balance
o Advantages: Quick and continuous readings, simple to use, compact and portable.
o Disadvantages: Less accurate, limited precision, calibration needed.
• Null Type
o Definition: Uses a balancing method where an external force is applied until equilibrium
(null point) is reached. E.g. Wheatstone bridge,
o Advantages: Highly Accurate, no moving parts, calibration standard.
o Disadvantages: Slower to use, not suitable for dynamic measurements.
• Analog
o Definition: output varies continuously as the quantity measured changes. E.g. pressure
gauge, speedometer.
o Advantages: smooth and continuous readings, more sensitive to small changes, faster
response time
o Disadvantages: less accurate, subject to human error, difficult to store and process.
• Digital
o Definition: has an output that varies in discrete steps and so can only have a finite number
of values. E.g. Digital multimeter, digital thermometer.
o Advantages: Higher accuracy and precision, easier to read, less affected by noise and
distortion.
o Disadvantages: Limited Resolution, Slower response time, requires power supply.
• Smart instruments
o Definition: Uses a microprocessor for processing and connectivity e.g. Smart blood
Pressure monitor, smart gas sensor
o Advantages: High accuracy, automated processing, self calibration
o Disadvantages: Complex maintenance requires power.
• Non-smart instruments
o Definition: Does not use microprocessors, e.g. (Mercury Barometer)
o Advantages: simple, reliable no power needed, low cast, long lifespan
 o Disadvantages: Lower accuracy, no data storage, no automation.

Accuracy: how close the output reading of the instrument to the correct value.

Inaccuracy: measurement uncertainty value.

Precision: instrument’s degree of freedom from random errors.

Tolerance: defines the maximum error that is to be expected in some value.

Resolution: refers to the smallest change in a measurement that an instrument can detect and display

Non-linearity: max deviation of any of the output readings.

Sensitivity of measurement refers to how much an instrument's output changes in response to a

change in the measured quantity.

Zero drift/ bias: describes the effect where the zero reading of an instrument is modified by a change in
the ambient conditions. This cause a constant error. Zero drift removable by calibration.

Hysteresis Effect: happens when an instrument's output depends on whether the input is increasing or
decreasing.

Dead space: range of different input values where there is no change in the output value. (Backlash in
gears is a typical cause of dead space)

Zero Order

First Order
 Second Order

• Systematic errors describe errors in the output readings of a measurement system that are
consistently on one side of the correct reading
o System disturbance
o Environmental changes.
o E.g. bent meter needles, use of uncalibrated instruments.
• Random errors: also called as precision errors, are perturbations of the measurement either side
of the true value (positive errors and negative errors).
o Source: electrical noise

• Wherever a systematic error exists alongside random errors, correction has to be made for
the systematic error in the measurements before statistical techniques are applied to
reduce the effect of random errors.

• Environmental input: is defined as input to a measurement system that is actually caused by a

change in the environmental conditions (e.g., of temperature and pressure).

Reduction of Systematic Errors

• Careful instrument design

• Calibration
• Method of opposing inputs
• High gain feedback
• Signal filtering

1. Which distribution should be used when the measurement set has only large values?
a. Gaussian Distribution.
2. Which distribution should be used when dealing with the sum of squared standard normal
variables
a. Chi-squared distribution.
3. An instrument is calibrated in an environment at 20°C. When it is used in an environment at 50°C,
the input-output characteristic (x-y) changes as follows. Determine the zero drift due to the
change in ambient temperature of 30°C.

x 5 10 15 20 25 30

T=2 y 13. 26. 39. 52. 65. 78.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

T=5 y 14. 29. 44. 58. 73. 88.

0 7 4 1 8 5 2

4. The following 10 measurements are made of the output voltage from a high-gain amplifier that is
contaminated owing to noise fluctuations: 1.53, 1.57, 1.54, 1.54, 1.50, 1.51, 1.55, 1.54, 1.56, 1.53.
Determine the median,mode, max deviation, variance.
a. Mode: 1.54 (most frequent value)
b. Median: 1.54(after sorting)
c. Variance: 0.000401
d. Max deviation below mean: -0.037
e. Max deviation above mean: 0.033