Introduction

To
Metrology
Prepared by:
Mr. Hiren Prajapati
Asst. Professor,
Institute of technology,
Nirma university,
hiren.prajapati@nirmauni.ac.in
Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU
 Legal Metrology
o National Service of legal metrology
• objective is to maintain uniformity of measurement throughout the world

o Functions:
• To ensure conservation of national standards.
• To guarantee their accuracy by comparison with international standard.
• To guarantee and correction in secondary standards for being used in country.
• To carry out scientific and technical work in all field of metrology and methods of
measurement.
• To regulate, advise, supervise and control the mfging and repairing of measuring
instruments.
• To inspect methodology to use the instrument.
• To detect frauds of measurement.
• To organize training in legal metrology
• To represent the country in international activity regarding metrology.

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

 Methods of Measurement
oDirect method
• The value of a quantity is obtained directly by comparing the unknown with the
standard.
• Ex. Measurement of length by graduated scale
oIndirect method
• The value of quantity to be measured is obtained by measuring other quantities which
are functionally related to the required value.
• Ex. Measurement of density by measuring mass and volume
oFundamental or Absolute method of measurement
• It is based on the measurement of the base quantities used to define the quantity.
• Ex. Measurement of force
oComparison method of measurement
• This method involves comparison with either a known value of the same quantity or
another quantity which is function of the quantity to be measured.
• Ex. Slip Gauges, Dial Gauges etc
Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU
 Methods of Measurement Cont…
oCoincidence (or differential) method of measurement
• In this method very small difference between the given quantity and the reference is
determined by the observation of scale marks. i.e Vernier caliper.

oDeflection method of measurement

• In this method the value of the quantity is directly indicated by deflection of a pointer
on a calibrated scale.

oNull method of measurement

• Quantity to be measured is compared with a known source and the difference
between these two is made zero.

oContact and contactless method

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU
 Basic Terms
o Range
• The region between the limits within which an instrument is designed to operate for
measuring, indicating or recording a physical quantity is called the range of the instrument.
• Ex. Thermometer (-10°C to 80°C), Micrometer (0 to 25 mm)

o Span
• Span represents the difference between maximum capacity and minimum capacity of the
instrument
• Ex. Thermometer (90°C), Micrometer (25 mm)

o Scale Spacing
• It is the distance between the axes of two adjacent graduations on the scale

o Scale division value

• It is the measured value of the measured quantity corresponding to one division of the
instrument.
Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU
 Basic Terms Cont…
oRepeatability
• Repeatability or test–retest reliability is the variation in measurements taken by a
single person or instrument on the same item and under the same conditions.

oReproducibility
• It refers to the degree of agreement between measurements or observations
conducted on replicate specimens in different locations by different people, as part of
the precision of a test method.

oMagnification/Sensitivity
• Enlargement of output signal for input signal.
• Generally the greater the magnification, the smaller is the range of
Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU
 Accuracy & Precision
oAccuracy
• The agreement of the measured value with the true value of the measured quantity is
called accuracy.
oPrecision
• Repeatability of measuring process

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

 Errors in measurement
oError
• It is the difference between the measured value and true value.
oError representation
• Absolute error (E)
Error = Measured Value – True Value
• Relative error (Er)
It is ratio of absolute error and true value
Percentage of True Value
Er = (M. V. – T. V.)/True Value*100
oCorrection (X Error)
• Difference between True Value and Measured Value

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

 Example
oThe guaranteed accuracy of a flow meter is ±3% of full scale reading of 2.5 x 10-6
m3/s. if the flow measured by this meter is 1.25 x 10-6 m3/s, calculate the limiting
error in percentage.
• Given: Ers = ±3% for entire scale 2.5 x 10-6 m3/s
• Full scale Reading = 2.5 x 10-6 m3/s
• Measured value: 1.25 x 10-6 m3/s

Limiting error for full length scale = ±3% x 2.5 x 10-6 = ± 0.075 x 10-6 m3/s

Relative error in true value

Ert = ± 0.075 x 10-6 / 1.25 x 10-6 = ± 0.06 = ± 6 %

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

 Types of error
o Gross Errors
• Due to human mistakes in reading instruments and recording and calculating results of
measurement. Analysis of such error is impossible.
• They can be avoided by taking more care in data recording and take more than one reading.
o Systematic Errors
• Instrumental Errors: Calibration error,
• Environmental Errors:
• Observational Errors: reading error, interpolation error, contact pressure, parallax, abbe’s
Principle
o Random Errors
• These are accidental, small and independent. Their magnitude and sign can not predicted.
They are non repetitive in repetitive measurement.
• Play in linkages, judging reading in between graduations, play between pointer and scale
division, hysteresis in elastic members, mechanical vibrations.

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

 Types of error
oStatic error
• Reading error
Parallax error
Interpolation error
• Environmental error: temp, pressure, humidity, vibration etc.
• Characteristic error: Calibration error.

oLoading error: Change in measurand itself during measurement bcz of contact pressure

oDynamic error: Friction, inertia, damping etc.

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

 Causes of error
oEffect of support
oEffect of alignment (Abbe’s Principle)
oContact Pressure
oError due to looseness
oError due to poor contact
oError due to wear.

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

 Factor Affecting Accuracy
oStandard
oWork piece
oInstrument
oPerson
oEnvironment

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

 Calibration
o It is process of framing the scale of the instrument by applying some standardized signals.

o It is process of deriving relationship between output (Indicating unit) and input (measurand)
signals.

o The accuracy of instrument depends upon the calibration.

o Regular use affect the accuracy of instrument.

o Recalibration is required periodically to check the accuracy of instrument.

o Period depends on severity of use, environmental conditions, accuracy of measurement required

etc.
Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU
oCalibration curve

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU
Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU
oSlip gauge reading Vs. Micrometer reading
oSlip gauge reading Vs. Error
oMicrometer reading Vs. Correction

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

Calibration Curve

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

Calibration Curve

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

Error Curve

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

Correction curve

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU

 Characteristics of precision measuring instruments
oHigh degree of sensitivity
oHigh degree of accuracy
oMinimum inertia
oKinematics (DOF)
oSelf alignment of object with measuring jaws
oSense of Feel

Prof. Hiren Prajapati, ME, IT, NU