Ms.

K Bhagaloo PHYSICS

Measurement

When reading measurement we can ususally read to nearest half interval on the scale. This is

common in rulers and other linear mieasurement instruments. However there are some instruments

which require us to read more than one scale to get an exact measurement. Two of these

instruments are the vernier caliper figure 1.4 and the micrometre screwthe gauge figure 1.5 below.

The Vernier caliper has two jaws and two scales, a larger jaw for external diameter and a smaller

one for internal diameter and the main scale which runs along the body of the caliper and the

Vernier scale which is attached to the sliding jaw. The main scale is used to get first part of the

reading to one decimal place, which is centimeters in this case with smaller graduations in

millimeter (1 tenth of a centimeter) to give the first decimal value. The Vernier scale gives the

smaller units which is the second decimal place or 1 hundredth of a centimeter. This is used to

measure the internal and external diameter of small objects like a test tube, a small beaker or

measuring cylinder. To go about the measurement of internal diameter of a test tube you carefully

place the smaller jaw of the Vernier caliper inside the test tube and slide it open until each side

meets the sides of the test tube. Look at the main scale and count the number divisions just before
Ms. K Bhagaloo PHYSICS

the zero in the Vernier scale. This gives the first part of the reading and in the diagram above there

are five strokes before the zero so the reading would be 0.5cm (5/10 cm). Next look at the Vernier

scale and observe which of the markings on this scale lines up perfectly with one on the main scale.

In the diagram above the third stroke lines up with the main scale and so this gives a value of

0.03cm (or 3/100cm). In order to get the final answer the two values must be added.

First reading = 0.5cm Second reading = 0.03cm

Total Internal diameter = 0.5cm + 0.03cm = 0.53cm

The micrometer screw gauge works in a similar manner and is also used for very small objects like

a strand of human hair or a thin piece of wire.