BASIC TERMINOLOGY OF

METROLOGY
AIM:
To understand basic concepts and
terminology of measurement. Measurement
is a comparison of given unknown quantity
with the one of its predetermined standard
values.
GENERAL CONCEPTS OF MEASUREMENTS:
Measurement is a comparison of given
unknown quantity with the one of its
predetermined standard values Adopted as a
unit of measurement provided with the
means of describing various phenomenian
quantitative terms.Measurement provides
fundamental basis for research and
development activities, the experiment part
is based. It is a fundamental element of any
Automatic control system. It is used to
evaluate the performance of any plant or a
process. It also the basis for commercial
activities.
NEED FOR MEASUREMENTS:
1. To determine true dimension of the
part.
2. To increase the knowledge and
understanding of the world.
3. To ensure public Health and Human
safety.
4. To convert physical parameteres into
meaningful numbers.
5. To test whether the element that
constitutes the system functions.
6. To evaluate the performance of the
system.
7. To study the basic law of nature.
8. To ensure interchangeability.
9. To check the limitation of theory
impractical point.
10. To establish the validity of design and
for finding new data and new design.
PROCESS OF MEASUREMENTS:
1. Measurand
2. Reference
3. Comparator.
UNITS:
Fundamental units

Supplementary units

Derived units
MEASURAND:
Physical parameters such as diameter and
thickness.
REFERENCE:
It is the physical quality to which
comparisons are made.
COMPARATOR:
To compare the measurement with the
reference.

STATIC RESPONSE:
Accuracy:
The degree of closeness of measurement
compared to the expected value.
Precision:
Measurement of consistency or repeatability
of measurements.
Resolution:
It is the smallest change in the measured
variable.
Threshold:
The minimum value of input below which no
output can be appeared.
Error:
The deviation of true value is called error.
Repeatability:
For trying to make same values in numbers of
measurements.
Reproductibility:
The same operation as over a period of time
is known as reproductibility.
Dead zone:
It is the large range of a measured variable to
which the instrument doesn’t respond.
Backlash:
Lost motion of free play of mechanical
elements such as gears, linkage etc..
Drift:
The variation of change in output for the
given over a period of time.
True value:
The errorless value of measured variable is
known as true value.
Linearity:
The ability to produce the input
characteristics systematically and linearly is
said to be linearity.
Range:
Minimum and the maximum values of the
quantity of measurement.
Tolerance:
Maximum allowable error in the
measurement.

METHODS OF MEASUREMENTS:
1. Direct method
2. Indirect method
3. Absolute or Fundamental method
4. Comparative method
5. Transposition method
 6. Coincidence method
7. Deflection method
8. Complementary method
9. Contact method
10.Contact less method
ACCURACY:
Accuracy is a degree to which measured value
Of the quality characteristics agrees with the
true value. The satisfactory components must
have its important surfaces true with respect
to form, relationship and dimensions.
Trueness of the form means that the cylinder
will be round, parallel and straight. Trueness
implies that the surfaces which should be
perpendicular will be within a close approach
to 90 degrees. The degree to which the
perfection of accuracy is obtained will be
depend on the following factors,
1. The grade of the product
2. Classification of product
3. Function of the surface concerned.
PRECISION:
Precision is a measurement of the
repeatability, or consistency, of a
measurement. It is possible to have a very
precise measurement without scatter (or
noise) that is repeatable and would be
considered precise (repeatable), however it
can be inaccurate because of an instrument
error. For example, the scanner may be out of
calibration and produce inaccurate but
consistent (Precise) results. However, it is not
possible to have an accurate instrument
unless it is also precise.
STANDARD:
In order to maintain accuracy and
interchangeability in the items manufactured
by various industries in the country , it is
essential that the standard are followed by
them must be traceable to a single source(ie,
National standards of the country). Further
the national standard must be linked with the
international standards to maintain accuracy
and interchangeability in the items
manufactured by various countries. The
national laboratories of the well developed
countries maintain close tolerance with
international bureau of Weights and Measure,
there is a assurance that the items
manufactured to identical dimension in
different countries will be compatible.
TYPES OF STANDARD MEASUREMENT:
1. International standards
2. Primary standards
3. Secondary standards
4. Working standards

MEASURING INSTRUMENTS:
Large number of variables involved in
measurement in practice. These variable may
be constant with the time varying
measurement of the weight if the objects the
example of time constant measurement.
CLASSIFICATION OF MEASUREMENT:
1. Deflection and nut type
instruments
2. Analog and digital instruments
 3. Active and passive type
instruments
4. Automatic and manually operated
instruments
5. Absolute and secondary
instruments
6. Contacting and non-contacting
instruments
7. Intelligent instruments
STRAIGHTNESS:
The bed must be straight longitudinally. The
sprit level is placed slide ways, at the interval
of 300 mm along the whole length of the bed.
The tolerance is without side for the rear
side.
FLATNESS:
The radial arm and drilling head are kept in
the middle position. A straight edge about
100mm is placed diagonally on the base
plate. A sprit level is placed on the straight
edge at different position and the bubble
reading is noted.
CMM:
Three dimensional measurement are required
for various components. CMM is useful for
this purpose. Some various co-ordinate
measuring machines utilizes electronic
indicator probe which can reach over and
under to check squareness in a single step. To
specify and perform calculation with physical
qualities it must be both in kind and
magnitude the standard of each kind of
physical quantity is the unit.
i. Fundamental units
ii. Supplementary units
iii. Derived units
SENSITIVITY:
Sensitivity of the instrument is defined as the
magnitude of output signal to the magnitude
of input signal. It denotes the smallest change
in the measured variable to which the
instrument responds.
STABILITY:
The ability of the measuring instrument to
retain its calibration ever along the period of
time is called stability. Stability determine
the instrument consistency over time.
REPETABILITY:
Repeatability is defined as the closeness with
the scale with the analog instrument can be
read. For example for the deflection type
weighing scale with a 30 cm scale span will
be compared to the weighing scale with 15 cm
scale span and the same range of
measurement.
ERROR:
Error is the difference between measured
value and the true value.
Error = Measured value – True value
TYPES:
1. Static error
• Characteristics error
• Reading error
• Environmental error
2. Loading error
3. Dynamic error
Absolute error:
The algebraic difference between result of the
measured to the value of the quantity
measured is called true absolute error. While
taking series of measurement the algebraic
difference between one of the result of the
measurement to the arithmetic mean is called
apparent absolute error.
Relative error:
It is defined as the result of absolute error
and the values of comparison used for
calculation of that absolute error. The
comparison may be true value or
conventional true value or arithmetic mean
for series of measurement.
Static error:
It is caused due to the physical nature of
various components of the measuring system.
The static error due to environment effects
and other properties which influences the
apparatus are also reason for this error.
Loading error:
As the measured quantity lost energy due to
the act of measurement, an error is
introduced is known as loading error. Loading
means measuring instrument always taking
input from the signal source. Due to this, the
signal source will be always be altered by the
act of measurement know as loading error.
Dynamic error:
It is due to the time variations in the values
measured. It’s caused by inertia, friction and
clamping action.
The analysis can be combined into an
acronym SWIPE
S – Standard
W– Work piece
I – Instrument
P – Person
E – Environment

RESULT:
Thus we understand and studied the basic
concepts and the terminology of the
measurements.