The use of measuring instruments,

accuracy, consistency, sensitivity & errors

The used of measuring instrument:
To measure the value of a
particular physical quantity

 The importance of choosing an appropriate instrument –

to ensure the measurement are accurate & reproducible.
 The magnitude of the quantity should not be exceed the
maximum capacity of the instrument
 The instrument must be sensitive enough to detect the
physical quantity.
Some common measuring
instruments
Meter ruler
 Use to measure length.
 The S.I unit for length is
metre (m) Other unit
for length are
millimetres (mm),
centimetres (cm) or
kilometres (km)
 Smallest scale : 0.1 cm
  Use to measure mass.
Triple beam
 The S.I unit for mass is
balance kilogram (kg)
 Other unit for mass are
gram (g) and milligram
(mg)
 Smallest scale : 0.1 g
 Stop watch

 Use to measure time.

 The S.I unit for time is
second (s)
 Other unit for time are
minute (min), hour (h),
day, month, year and
decade
 Smallest scale : 1 s
 Thermometer
 Use to measure
temperature.
 The S.I unit for
temperature is kelvin
(K)
 Other unit for
temperature are Celsius
(0C) andFahrenheit (0F)
 Smallest scale : 0.1 0C
 Ammeter
• Use to measure electric
current.
• The S.I unit for electric
current is ampere (A)
• Other unit for length is
milliampere (mA)
• Smallest scale : 0.1 A
 Voltmeter
 Use to measure
voltage.
 The S.I unit for
voltage is volt (V)
Other unit for voltage
is millivolt (mV)
 Smallest scale : 0.1 V
 Measuring cylinder
 Use to measure volume.
 The S.I unit for volume
is meter cube (m3)
 Other unit for volume
are cm3, milliliter (ml)
and liter(l)
 Smallest scale : 1 cm3
(ml)
 Vernier calliper
 Use to measure
the thickness or
outer diameter,
inner diameter
dan depth of an
object.
 Smallest scale :
0.01 cm or 0.1
mm
 Micrometer
screw gauge

 Use to measure
the thickness
and diameter of
small objects.
 Smallest scale :
0.001 cm or
0.01 mm
 Vernier Calipers

 to measure length of less than 10 cm

 Suitable for measuring internal / external

diameter of a round object

 Smallest scale division:

main scale – 0.1 cm
vernier scale – 0.01 cm
 How to read the vernier calipers?

• Read the main scale marking just before the zero

marking on the vernier scale.
• Find the vernier scale marking which joins the main
scale marking.
• The reading for a vernier scale is always recorded in
cm with two decimal places.
Measurement using vernier calipers

Main scale reading :3.0cm

Vernier scale reading :0.08cm
Actual Reading :3.08cm
 Micrometer screwgauge
Anvil

Function of structures:
• Jaw – to grip the object
• Sleeve – reading for main scale
• Thimble – reading for vernier scale
• Ratchet – to exert the correct amount of
pressure on the object.
 How to read the micrometer screw gauge?

• Read the main scale marking just before the zero

marking before the thimble.
• Find the vernier scale marking which joins the main
scale.
• The reading for a micrometer screw gauge is always
recorded in mm with two decimal places
(The sensitivity is 0.01 mm)
Measurement using micrometer screw gauge

Main scale reading :2.0mm

Vernier scale reading :0.09mm
Actual Reading :2.09mm
consistency

accuracy

sensitivity
Important aspects
of measurement
 CONSISTENCY

DEFINITION: The ability of an instrument to

register the same reading when a
measurement is repeated
Length of an object (cm) measured by using
Instrument X Instrument Y
8.5 8.2
8.4 7.9
8.5 8.9
8.6 9.2
8.5 8.0
Table shows two sets of reading by using different measuring instruments
 ACCURACY

DEFINITION: The ability of an instrument to give

measurements of a physical
quantity which are close to the
actual value

Example:
Actual height of a table: 56.2 cm. 2 students measure
The height of the table & obtain the following data:
Siti 56.3 cm 56.0 cm 56.2 cm 56.1 cm 56.4 cm

Jane 57.0 cm 57.1 cm 57.0 cm 57.1 cm 57.0 cm

 SENSITIVITY

DEFINITION: The ability of an instrument to

detect a small change in the
quantity to be measured.
Example:

Smallest division: 100 g 0.01 g

So, electronic balance is more sensitive than compression
balance.
 ERRORS IN MEASUREMENTS

Systematic TYPE OF Random

errors ERRORS errors
 SYSTEMATIC ERRORS
It is caused by the instrument:
1) There is flaw in the instrument (e.g: the edge of a ruler is worn)
2) Sources:
 Zero error of instruments
 Incorrect calibrated scale
 Repeated error in reaction time
 Wrong assumption
3) Zero error – occurs when the reading shows on the instrument is
not zero when the instrument is not in used. 2 types of zero error:
 positive zero error: zero of vernier scale lies to the right of the
main scale
 Negative zero error: zero of vernier scale lies to the left of main
scale.
 Error reduction: by compensating the reading
(reading with object – zero error)
Example:
1. Vernier calipers

Positive zero error = +0.02 cm Negative zero error

= -(0.10 – 0.03) cm
= - 0.07 cm
2) Micrometer screwgauge

Positive zero error = + 0.01 mm Negative zero error = - 0.03 mm

RANDOM ERRORS
Sources:
1. Natural error –
temperature , air
circulation Wrong reading

2. Parallax error –
Correct reading
incorrect
positioning of the
Wrong reading
eyes when taking
the
measurements.
Error reduction:
1. Natural error: repeating measurement in
order to find the average reading.

2. Avoid parallax error: place the eyes

perpendicular in front of the pointer of an
instrument when taking measurement.