DEE10013

MEASUREMENT DEVICES

Chapter 1:
Measurement And Error

Noorolpadzilah bt
Mohamed Zan
JKE, PUO

1
 COURSE LEARNING
OUTCOME
CLO 1
• apply the concept of measurement in
electrical and electronic equipment using
appropriate theorem.(C3, PLO1)
 SYLLABUS
1.0 MEASUREMENT AND ERROR
1.1 Remember measurement process
1.1.1 Define measurement
1.1.2 Describe the measurement process
1.2 Remember element in measurement system
1.2.1 Describe the following elements in
measurement system:
a. primary sensing element
b. variable manipulation element
c. data presentation element
1.3 Remember measurement terminologies
1.3.1 Define the following terminologies
a. scale
b. range
3
 SYLLABUS

1.4 Remember error in measurement

1.4.1 Define error in measurement
1.5 Understand types of error
1.5.1 Explain the following types of error:
a. gross error
b. systematic error
c. random error
d. absolute error
e. relative error
1.6 Apply concept of error in measurement
1.6.1 Calculate absolute error in measurement
1.6.2 Calculate relative error and percentage error in
measurement

4
 SYLLABUS

1.7 Understand characteristics of measurement

1.7.1 Explain the following characteristic of
measurement:
a. accuracy
b. precision
c. resolution
d. significant figure

1.8 Understand standards used in measurement

1.8.1 Explain the following level of standard:
a. international standard
b. primary standard
c. secondary standard
d. working standard
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 LEARNING OUTCOME

i. Know the measurement process

ii. Know element in measurement system
iii. Understandmeasurement terminologies
iv. Know error in measurement
v. Understand types of error
vi. Understand characteristics of
measurement
vii. Understand standards used in
measurement
 Definition of The Measurement
Process

• The process of determining the amount,

degree, or capacity by comparison ( direct
or indirect) with the accepted standards of
the system units being used. (Electronic
measurement, H.s Kalsi)
The Measurement Process
• The process by which physical parameters can be
converted to meaningful numbers. (Bhavani and
Vasantha)
• In other word measurement an estimation of a physical
parameter (quantity) by a measurement device
(instrument).
Measurement output signal
input signal Instrument
(physical (Measurement System)
(electrical parameter)
parameter)
Fig.1.0 Basic of Measurement process
Element in Measurement System
In measurement system we have three (3)
elements, which are :
1. Primary Sensing Element
2. Variable manipulation element
3. Data presentation element
i. Primary sensing element or
transducer/sensor
Sense and converts the input signal to a
more convenient and practicable form (example:
electrical signal)
ii. Variable manipulation element
process the transducer signal (electrical signal)
to make it suitable for application to data
presentation element
iii. Data presentation element
an indication of the value of the measurement
(readout device / display / recording etc ).
Example : Measurement System in Analog meter

Variable Manipulation

Block Diagram o an ammeter

 Measurement terminologies
i. Scale
– A series of marks at regular intervals on an instrument
that is used for measuring.
– The scale is depending on the range.

ii. Range
– The minimum and maximum values of a
quantity for which an instrument is designed
to measure is called its range .
– E.g ammeter range : 0mA to 5 mA
Reading Analogue scales

Scale

0.4V Range
0.2V
0.02V
Example .

Figure 3.0 shows the scale panel of analog multi

meter. When the range selector is set at DC 2.5V,
what is
i. The maximum range of the meter
ii. The reading value of one scale
iii. The voltage reading pointed by the pointer
 Error in measurement
Definition of error :
The deviation/ different between true
values ​(computed) and measured values
of quantities

• Factors that affect the measurements are related

to
 the measuring instruments
 the person using the instrument

• Error may be expressed either as absolute or

 Types of error
1) Gross Error
2) Systematic Error
3) Random Error
4) Absolute Error
5) Relative Error
1) Gross Error

 Fault of person using the instruments such

as incorrect reading , incorrect recording of
data or incorrect use of instruments.
 can be reduced :
by proper meter reading and connection,
avoid careless etc.
2) Systematic Error

Due to problems with instruments, environmental

effects, or observational error
i. Instrument errors may be due to friction in
bearing of the meter, incorrect spring tension,
improper calibration or faulty instruments.
ii. Environmental errors is Environmental
conditions in which instruments are used may
cause errors (Example : high temperature/
pressure / humidity/strong electrostatic or
electromagnetic field.
 2) Systematic Error

iii. Observable errors are those errors

introduced by the observer. Probably the
parallax error in reading a meter scale and
the error of estimation
 Can be reduced :
proper maintenance, use and handling of
instruments and minimized those effect
magnetic shield
3) Random Error

 These are errors that remain after gross and

systematic errors have been substantially
reduced.
 These errors are due to unknown causes.
 Can be minimized (reduced)
by taking many reading of each instrument and
analyzed statistically (determining mean
value).
•  
4) Absolute Error

 Absolute (actual) error is the differences

between the expected value and the
measured value , or

where,
= absolute error
= Expected value
= Measured value
5) Relative Error

 Relative error is how much error you had

compared to the real measurement
  𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟=
𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
  𝑌𝑛−𝑋𝑛
¿
| |
𝑌𝑛

  𝑒
¿
𝑌𝑛| |
  𝑒
%  𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟=
𝑌𝑛| |
×100
 EXAMPLE
Question:
•  
The measured value of a resistance is 10.25Ω, where as
its value is 10.22Ω. Determine the absolute error of
measurement.

Solution:
Given :
Measured value, =10.25Ω
True value , =10.22Ω

Absolute error
= | 10.22 Ω -10.25 Ω |
= 0.03 Ω
 Page 23
 Questions

• Question 1
The expected value of the voltage across
a resistor is 5.0 V. However,
measurement yields a value of 4.9 V.
Calculate:
a)Absolute error
b)Percent of error

24
 Characteristic of measurement
•1.  Accuracy
how close to indicating to the actual value.

%
2. Precision
is a measure of the consistency or repeatability
of measurements
3. Resolution
The smallest change in a measured variable to
which an instrument will respond.
It is very near to sensitivity
4. Significant Figure
A number are those digits that carry meaning
contributing to its precision
Example : 68Ω, 69Ω - two significant
figures.
68.0Ω, 67.9Ω - three significant figures
Exercise
Standard used in measurement

a. International Standards
b. The Primary standards
c. Secondary standards
d. Working standards
a. International Standards
 Define by international agreement.
 They represent certain units of measurement to
the closest possibly accuracy that production and
measurement technology allow.
 Maintained at the international Bureau of Weight
and Measures in Paris
 Example BSI(British Standard Institution),
IEC(international Electro technical commission)
and ISO (International Organization for Standard)
b. The Primary standards
Maintained at national standard laboratories in different
countries.
Not available for use outside the national laboratories.
Function - calibration and verification of secondary standards.
EXAMPLE : SI : KG, POUND. (L , GELEN)

c.Secondary standards
It is basic reference standards used in industrial measurement
laboratories.
Each industry has its own secondary standard. Example:
SIRIM, Timbang & Sukat kem. Perdagangan & perindustrian,
Pusat penyelidikan pertahanan, local universiti and industries
d. Working standards
 The principle tools of a measurements
laboratory.
 They are used to check and calibrate the
instruments used in laboratory or to make
comparison measurements in industrial
application.
 Example : Instrumentation laboratory (The
resistor manufacturing industry maintains a
standard resistor in the laboratory for
checking the values of the manufactured
resistors)
 Tutorial
1) Describe the meaning of:
i. Error.
ii. Accuracy.
iii. Measurement.
iv. Precision.  
2) Explain three of the types of error below:
v. Gross error
vi. Systematic error
vii.Random error
 Tutorial
Table below shows the set of data from a
measurement process. Define precision and
calculate the precision of the 5th measurement.
 
Measurement 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
no.
Measurement 98 102 101 97 100 103 98 106 107 99
value (mA)
Tutorial
 REFERENCES
• Kalsi, H.S. (2004). Electronic Instrumentation.
New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill.
• Bakshi U.A, Bakshi A.V. (2009). Electronic
Instrumentation, Technical Publications,
• Bhavani V, Vasantha S. (2008). Measurements &
Instrumentation, IBS
• Helfrick & Cooper (2008). Modern Electronic
Instrumentation & Measurement Techniques,
Prentice Hall of India
• Stephen L.Herman (2010) .Standard Textbook of
Electricity, 5th Edition. Delmar Cengage Learning