TWO PEG TEST

a = rod reading on A with instrument set up near A

b = rod reading on B with instrument set up near A
c = rod reading on B with instrument set up near B
d = rod reading on A with instrument set up near B
DE = Difference in Elevation
TDE = True Difference in Elevation

DEa = (a-b) and DEb = (d-c)

TDEa = a – (b-e) and TDEb = (d-e) – c

TDE = (TDEa + TDEb)/2 now substitute the values

= [a – (b-e)] + [(d-e) – c]
2
=a–b+e+d–e–c
2
= (a – b) + (d – c)
2
If TDEa is not equal to TDEb then the correct rod reading at A with the
instrument set up near B is
 d’ = c + TDE = c + (a – b) + (d – c)
2
If d > d’ ---- the line of sight is inclined upward
If d < d’ ---- the line of sight is inclined downward

Example: page 529

In the two-peg test of a dumpy level the following observations were taken:
with level setup near A, observed readings are a=1.855m and b=1.434m.;
with level setup near B, c=1.790m and d=2.211m. Determine the correct
reading on the rod held at A with the instrument still in the same position at
B for a horizontal line of sight.
Given: a = 1.855 m c = 1.790 m
b = 1.434 m d = 2.211 m
Figure: refer to above figure
Find: the correct reading for d’
Solution:
DEa = (a-b) DEb = (d-c)
= 1.855 – 1.434 = 2.211 – 1.790
= 0.421 m = 0.421 m
TDE = (DEa + DEb)/2
= (0.421+ 0.421)/2
= 0.421 m
d’ = c + TDE = 1.79 + 0.421 = 2.211 m
e = d – d’ = 2.211 – 2.211 = 0.0 m
e = 0 meaning there is no error in the line of sight
d = d’ ---- is in horizontal line of sight
ALTERNATE PROCEDURE FOR TWO-PEG TEST

Where:
a = rod reading on A with instrument set up at M
b = rod reading on B with instrument set up at M
c = rod reading on A with instrument set up at P
d = rod reading on B with instrument set up at P
c’ = correct rod reading on A for a horizontal line of sight
d’ = correct rod reading on B for a horizontal line of sight
Da = horizontal distance between points A and P
Db = horizontal distance between points B and P
en = error in the reading on the near rod (held at A)
ef = error in the reading on the far rod (held at B)
I = inclination of the line of sight in the net distance
TDE = True Difference in Elevation

TDE = DEm = ( a – b )
DEP = ( c – d )
I = DEm - DEP
I=(a-b)–(c–d)
For the error in reading on the far rod at B, by ratio and
proportion, refer to figure above:

ef ‗ Db
I (Db - Da)

ef = Db(I)/ (Db - Da) and d’ = d - ef

 For d’ subtract algebraically the ef from d
If d > d’ the line of sight is inclined upward.

For the error in reading at the near rod at A, by ratio and

proportion, refer to same figure above:

en ‗ Da
I (Db - Da)

en = Da(I)/ (Db - Da) and c’ = c - en

For c’, subtract algebraically the value of en from c.

To check the difference in elevation between the two corrected

rod reading should be:

(a – b) = (c’ – d’)

Example: page 529

The two-peg test is used to determine if the line of sight of the telescope is
parallel to the axis of the bubble tube. A level is set up halfway between
points A and B and rod readings on both points are 1.969 m and 2.161 m,
respectively. The level is then set up 3.5 m away from A along the extension
of line AB and 53.50m from B. The rod readings on A and B were recorded
as 1.554m and 1.728m, respectively. Determine if the line of sight is inclined
downward or upward and the amount by which the horizontal cross hair
should be moved to adjust the line of sight.
Given:
a = 1.969m
b = 2.161m
c = 1.554m
d = 1.728m
Da = 3.50m
Db = 53.50m
Figure: use figure above
Find: inclination of the line of sight and the amount of error
Solution:
TDE = DEm = (a – b) = 1.969 – 2.161 = -0.192m
DEP = (c – d) = 1.554 – 1.728 = -0.174m
I = DEm - DEP = -0.192 – (-0.174) = -0.018m
Solving for the error on the far rod:
ef = Db(I)/ (Db - Da) = 53.50(-0.018)÷(53.50-3.50)
= -0.01926m
d’ = d - ef = 1.728 – (-0.01926)
= 1.74726m
Since d < d’, the line of sight is inclined downward.
Solving for the error at the near rod
en = Da(I)/ (Db - Da) = 3.50(-0.018)÷(53.50-3.50)
= -0.00126m
c’ = c – en = 1.554 – (-0.00126)
= 1.55526m
To CHECK:
a – b = c’ – d’
1.969 – 2.161 = 1.55526 – 1.74726
-0.192m = -0.192m//.