1.

4 UNDERSTANDING
MEASUREMENTS
Students should be able to:
1. Measure physical quantities using appropriate
instruments.
2. Explain sensitivity.
3. Explain accuracy and consistency.
4. Explain types of experimental error.
5. Use appropriate techniques to reduce errors.

Measuring Instruments

Estimation of Dimensions

Suitable instruments are required to make the

measurement;
- more reliable,
- better accuracy,
- more consistency.

Sensitivity
Definition: the capability of an instrument
to respond to physical stimuli or to register
small physical amounts or differences.
A sensitive instrument can;
Detect small changes in a quantity measured,
React very fast to the changes in
measurements made.

Instrument with smaller divisions on the

scale are more sensitive.

Precision
Definision : the degree of uniformity or
reproducibility of the measurements.

The Vernier Scales

Introduction
The precision of length measurements may
be increased by using a device that uses a
sliding vernier scale.
Two such instruments that you will use to
measure lengths of objects are:
vernier callipers
micrometer screw gauge.

These instruments have:

a main scale (in millimetres)
a sliding or rotating vernier scale.

Explanation
In figure below, the vernier scale (below) is divided
into 10 equal divisions.
Vernier scale reading is the mark on the vernier
scale which exactly coincides with a mark on the
main scale (0.7 mm).
The reading = 3.0 +0.7 = 3.7 mm.

 Reading = 15.0+0.8 = 15.8 mm

The vernier calipers

Vernier calipers allows readings to the nearest 0.02

mm.
This instrument may be used to measure
outer dimensions of objects (using the main jaws),
inside dimensions (using the smaller jaws at the top),
depths (using the stem).

Example

37mm

0.46mm

37.46mm

34 mm

0.60 mm

34.60mm

40mm

0.00mm

40.00 mm

Micrometer Screw Gauge

A screw with an accurately constant pitch (the
amount by which the thimble moves forward or
backward for one complete revolution).
A pitch = 0.50 mm
2 full turns are required to close the jaws by 1.00 mm.

The rotating thimble is subdivided into 50 equal

divisions.
The thimble passes through a frame that carries
a millimetre scale graduated to 0.5 mm.
While doing the measurement, the manufacturer
recommends 3 clicks of the ratchet before taking
the reading.

Example

7mm

0.38 mm

7.38mm

7.5mm

0.22 mm

7.72mm

3 mm

0.46mm

3.46mm

3.5 mm

0.06mm

3.56mm