Definition

Metrology is the name given to the

science of pure measurement.
Engineering Metrology is restricted
to measurements of length & angle
Measurement is defined as the process
of numerical evaluation of a dimension
or the process of comparison with
standard measuring instruments
 Need of Measurement
Establish standard
Interchangeability
Customer Satisfaction
Validate the design
Physical parameter into meaningful
number
True dimension
Evaluate the Performance
 Methods of Measurement
Direct method
Indirect method
Comparative method
Coincidence method
Contact method
Deflection method
Complementary method
 Direct method
Measurements are directly obtained
Ex: Vernier Caliper, Scales
 Indirect method
Obtained by measuring other
quantities
Ex : Weight = Length x Breadth x
Height x Density
 Comparative Method
Its compared with other known value
Ex: Comparators
Coincidence method
Measurements coincide with certain
lines and signals
Fundamental method
Measuring a quantity directly in
related with the definition of that
quantity
Contact method
Sensor/Measuring tip touch the
surface area
Complementary method
The value of quantity to be measured
is combined with known value of the
same quantity
Ex:Volume determination by liquid
displacement
 Deflection method
The value to be measured is directly
indicated by a deflection of pointer
Ex: Pressure Measurement
 Common elements of
Generalized measuring
system
Primary sensing element
Variable conversion element
Variable manipulation element
Data transmission element
Data processing element
Data presentation element
Primary sensing Variable conversion
element element

Variable manipulation
element

Temperature

Data transmission
element

Observer

Data presentation Data processing

element element
Units and standards
SI: fundamental
Units
Physical Quantity Unit Name Symbol

length meter m
mass kilogram kg
time second s
electric current ampere A
temperature Kelvin K
amount of substance mole mol
luminous intensity candela cd
 SI: Derived Units
Physical Quantity Unit Name Symbol

area square meter m2

volume cubic meter m3
meter per
speed m/s
second
meter per
acceleration m/s2
second squared
weight, force newton N
pressure pascal Pa
energy, work joule J
Supplementary units

Physical
Unit Name Symbol
Quantity

Plane
Radian rad
angle
Solid
Steradian sr
angle
 Standards
International standards

Primary standards

Secondary standards

Working standards
 Measuring Instruments
Deflection and null type instruments
Analog and digital instruments
Active and passive instruments
Automatic and manually operated
instruments
Contacting and non contacting
instruments
Absolute and secondary instruments
Intelligent instruments.
 DEFLECTION AND NULL TYPE
Physical effect generated by the
measuring quantity
Equivalent opposing effect to nullify the
physical effect caused by the quantity
 ANALOG AND DIGITAL
INSTRUMENTS
Physical variables of interest in the
form of continuous or stepless
variations
Physical variables are represented by
digital quantities
 ACTIVE AND PASSIVE
INSTRUMENTS
Instruments are those that require
some source of auxiliary power
The energy requirements of the
instruments are met entirely from the
input signal
 Automatic and manually
operated
Manually operated requires the
service of human operator
Automated doesn't requires human
operator
 Contacting And Non Contacting
Instruments
A contacting with measuring medium
Measure the desired input even
though they are not in close contact
with the measuring medium
 Absolute and Secondary
Instruments
These instruments give the value of the
electrical quantity in terms of absolute
quantities
Deflection of the instruments can read
directly
 Intelligent instruments
Microprocessors are incorporated
with measuring instruments
 Characteristics of Measuring
Instrument
Sensitivity

Readability

Range of accuracy

Precision
 Definition
Sensitivity- Sensitivity is defined as the ratio
of the magnitude of response (output
signal) to the magnitude of the quantity
being measured (input signal)
Readability- Readability is defined as the
closeness with which the scale of the analog
instrument can be read
 Definition
Range of accuracy- Accuracy of a
measuring system is defined as the
closeness of the instrument output to the
true value of the measured quantity
Precision- Precision is defined as the ability
of the instrument to reproduce a certain
set of readings within a given accuracy
 Sensitivity
If the calibration curve is liner, as shown, the
sensitivity of the instrument is the slope of
the calibration curve.
If the calibration curve is not linear as shown,
then the sensitivity varies with the input.
Sensitivity
This is the relationship between a change in the
output reading for a given change of the input.
(This relationship may be linear or non-linear.)

Sensitivity is often known as scale factor or

instrument magnification and an instrument with a
large sensitivity (scale factor) will indicate a large
movement of the indicator for a small input
change.
Readability

Readability is defined as the ease with which

readings may be taken with an instrument.

Readability difficulties may often occur due to

parallax errors when an observer is noting the

position of a pointer on a calibrated scale

 Accuracy
Accuracy = the extent to which a
measured value agrees with a true
value
The difference between the
measured value & the true value is
known as Error of measurement
Accuracy is the quality of conformity
 Precision
The precision of a measurement depends on
the instrument used to measure it.
For example, how long is this block?
 Accuracy vs. Precision

High Accuracy High Precision

High Precision Low Accuracy
 Uncertainty
The word uncertainty casts a doubt

about the exactness of the

measurement results

True value = Estimated value +

Uncertainty
Performance of Instruments
All instrumentation systems are
characterized by the system
characteristics or system response
There are two basic characteristics of
Measuring instruments, they are
Static character
Dynamic character
 Static Characteristics
The instruments, which are used to

measure the quantities which are

slowly varying with time or mostly

constant, i.e., do not vary with time,

is calledstatic characteristics.
 STATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AN
INSTRUMENTS
Accuracy Dead zone

Precision Backlash

Sensitivity True value

Resolution Hysteresis

Threshold Linearity

Drift Range or Span

Error Bias

Repeatability Tolerance

Reproducibility Stability
 Resolution

This is defined as the smallest input

increment change that gives some small but
definite numerical change in the output.
Threshold
This minimum value of input below which no
output can be appeared is known as threshold
of the instrument.

Output

input
Drift
Drift or Zero drift is variation in the output of
an instrument which is not caused by any
change in the input; it is commonly caused by
internal temperature changes and component
instability.

Sensitivity drift defines the amount by which

instruments sensitivity varies as ambient
conditions change.
 Error The deviation of the true value from the
desired value is called Error

Repeatability It is the closeness value of same

output for same input under same operating
condition

Reproducibility - It is the closeness value of same

output for same input under same operating
condition over a period of time
 Range
The Range is the total range of
values which an instrument is
capable of measuring.
 Hysteresis
This is the algebraic difference between the average
errors at corresponding points of measurement
when approached from opposite directions, i.e.
increasing as opposed to decreasing values of the
input.
Measured
Value
Hysteresis is
Ideal caused by
energy
storage/
dissipation in
Actual/ Input the system.
Value
Zero stability

The ability of the instrument to return to

zero reading after the measured has returned to

zero
Dead band

This is the range of different input values over

which there is no change in output value.
Linearity- The ability to reproduce the input
characteristics symmetrically and linearly
 Backlash Lost motion or free play of
mechanical elements are known as
backlash

True value The errorless value of

measured variable is known as true value

Bias The Constant Error

Tolerance- Maximum Allowable error in

Measurement
 Dynamic Characteristics
The set of criteria defined for the

instruments, which changes rapidly with

time, is called dynamic characteristics.

 Dynamic Characteristics
Steady state periodic

Transient

Speed of response

Measuring lag

Fidelity

Dynamic error
 Steady state periodic Magnitude has a

definite repeating time cycle

Transient Magnitude whose output does

not have definite repeating time cycle

Speed of response- System responds to

changes in the measured quantity

 Measuring lag
Retardation type :Begins immediately after
the change in measured quantity
Time delay lag : Begins after a dead time
after the application of the input
Fidelity- The degree to which a
measurement system indicates changes
in the measured quantity without error
Dynamic error- Difference between the
true value of the quantity changing with
time & the value indicated by the
measurement system
 Errors in Instruments
Error = True value Measured value

or

Error = Measured value - True value

 Types of Errors
Error of Measurement

Instrumental error

Error of observation

Based on nature of errors

Based on control
 Error of Measurement
Systematic error -Predictable way in
accordance due to conditions change

Random error - Unpredictable manner

Parasitic error - Incorrect execution of

measurement
 Instrumental error
Error of a physical measure

Error of a measuring mechanism

Error of indication of a measuring instrument

Error due to temperature

Error due to friction

Error due to inertia

 Error of observation
Reading error

Parallax error

Interpolation error
 Nature of Errors
Systematic error

Random error
 Based on control
Controllable errors
Calibration errors
Environmental (Ambient /Atmospheric
Condition) Errors
Stylus pressure errors
Avoidable errors
Non - Controllable errors
 Correction
Correction is defined as a value
which is added algebraically to the
uncorrected result of the
measurement to compensate to an
assumed systematic error.
Ex : Vernier Caliper, Micrometer
 Calibration
Calibration is the process of
determining and adjusting an
instruments accuracy to make sure
its accuracy is with in manufacturing
specifications.
 Interchangeability
A part which can be substituted for
the component manufactured to the
small shape and dimensions is known
a interchangeable part.
The operation of substituting the part
for similar manufactured components
of the shape and dimensions is
known as interchangeability.