SPRING 2017

EE 305 INSTRUMENTATION and MEASUREMENTS

MID-TERM EXAM

STUDENT NAME, SURNAME and ID:

DATE:

Instructions:

• Examination time: 80 min.

• Print your name and student ID number in the space provided above.

• This examination is closed book and closed notes.

• There are 2 questions. The points for each question are given in square brackets, next to the question
title. The overall maximum score is 100. This exam weighs 20% of your final grade.

• Answer each question either in the space provided, or if you need to continue an answer on the back of
the sheet, clearly indicate that and label the answer with the question number.

1 2
QUESTION

/50 /50
POINTS

TOTAL /100
1. Mark the correct statement(s) (50 %)
1.1 Span of a sensor [4] 1.2 Resolution of a sensor [4]
a) cannot be quantified – it is either high a) is the maximum difference between the
or low actual value and the indicated value at
b) tells about the slope of the output the output of the sensor
characteristic curve b) is the smallest detectable incremental
c) tells where is the intersection point of change of input parameter that can be
the output characteristic curve detected in the output signal
d) is defined as the difference between the c) is equal to precision of a sensor
maximum and minimum values that it d) is a way to express the average
can measure measured value

1.3 Identify the type of instrument calibration error(s) shown in this graph: [4]
a) Hysteresis error
b) Linearity error
c) Both zero and sensitivity (span) errors
d) Sensitivity (span) error
e) Zero error

1.4 Young's modulus of a material is a measure of [4]

a) Electrical current resistance
b) Material mass
c) Thermal expansion of a solid
d) Stiffness of a solid material

1.5 A sample of 69 items have an average length of 200cm. The length follows the normal i.e.
Gaussian distribution. The calculated standard deviation is 1cm. How many items are
expected to have a length that exceeds 201cm (L>201cm)? [8]

1.6 A pressure transmitter has a calibrated measurement range of 200 to 300 kPa, and an
output range of 4-20 mA. What is the expected output if the input pressure is 235 kPa? [5]

1.7 A pH transmitter has a calibrated range of 3 to 11pH, with a 4-20 mA output. What is the pH
measurement if the transmitter’s output is equal to 17.3 mA? [5]

1.8 Sketch a Wheatstone bridge with voltage source and one sensor, instrumentation amplifier
and a low pass filter at the output. List at least two factors that make the system have
nonlinear response! [6]

1.9 How is it possible to eliminate nonlinearity caused by Wheatstone bridge? What is the cost
of it? [5]
1.10 How do the 2-op-amp and 3-op-amp differential amplifiers compare? What is the
advantage and disadvantage of utilizing 2 or 3 op-amps in the design? [5]

2. Bridge circuit with strain gauge (50%)

One arm of a bridge is a 1 kΩ strain gauge with S = 3. This strain

gauge is bonded to a metal fixture (cross-section 3cmx0.1cm)
for tensile loading, and the metal has a Young’s Modulus E=2.5
GPa. The other 3 arms are fixed 1kΩ resistors. The bridge is
powered by 5V DC as shown, and EO is the output voltage.
g=9.81 m/s2.

a) Derive a relationship for EO as a function of mass m hanged

on the metal fixture, that is, find EO(m) = … [10]

Note that: R = R S and where  is

the strain and R the change in the resistance due to strain. 

is the tensile stress that is directly proportional to the force
applied and inversely proportional to the area of the fixture.
b) What is the output voltage if 1kg is hanged on the fixture? What is the output voltage if
50kg is hanged on the fixture? How big is the nonlinearity error? [10]

c) Maximum change in resistance R where the response is linear is 2% of the nominal

resistance. What are the input range and span of the scale? That is, what is the maximum
mass that can be hanged on the metal fixture? [10]

d) If the thickness of the fixture is doubled, what happens to the range? [10]

e) The differential signal is then amplified by a 3-op-amp differential amplifier supplied also by
5V. Maximum output voltage is therefore 5V. What is maximum gain coefficient that you
would choose? [10]