MCQs

1. The measurement of a quantity

a. is an act of comparison of an unknown quantity with a predefined acceptable
standard which is accurately known
b. is an act of comparison of an unknown quantity with another quantity
c. is an act of comparison of an unknown quantity with a known quantity whose
accuracy may be known or may
d. not be known
e. none of these
Answer: a
2. In measurement systems, which of the following static characteristics are desirable?
a. Sensitivity
b. Accuracy
c. Reproducibility
d. All of the above
Answer: d
3. A null-type instrument as compared to a deflection-type instrument
has
a. a lower sensitivity
b. a faster response
c. a higher accuracy
d. all of the above
Answer:C
4. In a measurement system, the function of the signal manipulating
element is to
a. change the magnitude of the input signal while retaining its
identity
b. change the quantity under measurement to an analogous
signal
c. to perform non-linear operation like filtering, chopping and
clipping and clamping
d. to perform linear operation like addition and multiplication
Answer:a
5. In measurement systems, which of the following are undesirable
static characteristics?
a. Reproducibility and nonlinearity
b. Drift, static error and dead zone
c. Sensitivity and accuracy
d. Drift, static error, dead zone and nonlinearity
Answer: d
6. In some temperature measurement, the reading is recorded as
25.70°C. The reading has
a. five significant figures
b. four significant figures
c. three significant figures
d. none of the above
 Answer:b
7. In the center of a zero analog ammeter having a range of -10 A to
+10 A, there is a detectable change of the pointer from its zero
position on either side of the scale only as the current reaches a
value of 1 A (on either side). The ammeter has a
a. dead zone of 1 A
b. dead zone of 2 A
c. resolution of 1 A
d. sensitivity of 1 A
Answer: b
8. A dc circuit can be represented by an internal voltage source of 50
V with an output resistance of 100 kW. In order to achieve 99%
accuracy for voltage measurement across its terminals, the voltage
measuring device should have
a. a resistance of at least 10 W
b. a resistance of 100 kW
c. a resistance of at least 10 MW
d. none of the above
Answer: c
9. A pressure measurement instrument is calibrated between 10 bar
and 260 bar. The scale span of the instrument is
a. 10 bar
b. 260 bar
c. 250 bar
d. 270 bar
Answer: c
10.A Wheatstone bridge is balanced with all the four resistances equal
to 1 kW each. The bridge supply voltage is 100 V. The value of
one of the resistance is changed to 1010 W. The output voltage is
measured with a voltage measuring device of infinite resistance.
The bridge sensitivity is
a. 2.5 mV/W
b. 10 V/W
c. 25 mV/W
d. none of the above
Answer: c
11.The smallest change in a measured variable to which an instrument
will respond is
a. resolution
b. precision
c. sensitivity
d. accuracy
Answer: a
 12.The desirable static characteristics of a measurement are
a. precision
b. accuracy
c. sensitivity
d. all of these
Answer: d
13.The errors mainly caused by human mistakes are
a. systematic error
b. instrumental error
c. observational error
d. gross error
Answer: d
14.Systematic errors are
a. environmental error
b. observational error
c. instrumental error
d. all of the above
Answer: d
15.An analog ammeter is
a. an absolute instrument
b. an indicating instrument
c. a controlling instrument
d. a recording instrument
Answer: b

Short and Long questions

1. What is measurement? What is meant by the term measurand? What is a measuring

instrument?

1) Digital multimeter is used for __

a) measuring a.c. and d.c. current, voltage and resistance
b) measuring a.c. current and voltage
c) measuring d.c. current and resistance
d) measuring a.c. voltage and resistance

Answer: a
Explanation: Digital multimeter is usually used for the measurement of a.c.
current, voltage and resistance. It is also used for the measurement of d.c.
current, voltage and resistance as well over several range.
2) Current is converted to voltage __________
 a) through a voltmeter
b) through a resistance
c) through an ammeter
d) through a galvanometer
Answer: b
Explanation: Current is passed through a low shunt resistance and is converted
to voltage. A.C. quantities are converted to D.C. through various rectifier and filter
circuits. Voltmeter and ammeter are used for voltage and current measurement
respectively
3) . For resistance measurement, meter contains _________
a) high current source
b) medium current source
c) low current source
d) low voltage source

Answer: c
Explanation: Usually in the measurement of resistance, meter consists of
a precision low current source applied across an unknown resistance
which gives a d.c. voltage.
4) Quantities are digitised using _________
a) D/A converter
b) oscillator
c) amplifier
d) A/D converter

Answer: d
Explanation: Quantities such as current, voltage and resistance are
digitised by making use of an A/D converter. They are then displayed on
the screen by making use of a digital display.

5) Analog mulimeters require power supply.

a) True
b) False

Answer: b
Explanation: Analog multimeters are less affected by electric noise and
isolation problems. As a result analog multimeters don’t require a power
supply.

6) Output of a digital multimeter is _________

a) mechanical
b) optical
c) electrical
d) analog

Answer: c
Explanation: Digital multimeter gives an electrical signal as the output. A/D
 converter is employed for the conversion from analog to digital signal. This
can be used for interfacing with external equipment.

7) Basic building blocks of digital multimeter are _________

a) oscillator, amplifier
b) diode, op amp
c) rectifier, schmitt trigger
d) A/D, attenuator, counter

Answer: d
Explanation: Usually dual slope integrating type ADC is preferred in multimeter. It
basically consists of several A/D converters, counter circuits and an attenuation
.circuit
8) Resistance is measured using _________
a) constant current source
b) constant voltage source
c) variable current source
d) variable voltage source

Answer: a
Explanation: Constant current source is used to measure resistance in a digital
multimeter. Standard known value of current is passed through an unknown
resistance and the drop in voltage across the resistance is measured.
9) Suppose I were about to measure an unknown voltage with a manual-range
voltmeter. This particular voltmeter has several different voltage measurement
ranges to choose from:
a. 500 volts
b. 250 volts
c. 100 volts
d. 50 volts
e. 25 volts
f. 10 volts
g. 5 volts
What range would be best to begin with, when first measuring this
.unknown voltage with the meter? Explain your answer
Begin by setting the voltmeter to its highest range: 500 volts. Then,
see if the movement needle registers anything with the meter leads
connected to the circuit. Decide to change the meter’s range based
on this first indication.
Notes:
I always like to have my students begin their test equipment familiarity by using
old-fashioned analog multimeters. Only after they have learned to be proficient
with an inexpensive meter do I allow them to use anything better (digital, auto-
ranging) in their work. This forces students to appreciate what a “fancy” meter
does for them, as well as teach them basic principles of instrument ranging and
measurement precision.

10) What is a galvanometer? How might you build your own galvanometer from
commonly available components?
There are several sources of information on galvanometers, both
historical and modern. I leave it to you to do the research and
present your findings.

Notes:
It is possible to make a crude galvanometer from a large audio speaker,
using the voice coil/cone assembly as the moving element. Using a small
laser and a mirror, it should be easy to construct a light-beam galvanometer,
for greater sensitivity. This could be a fun and educational classroom
experiment!

11) Describe the design and function of a PMMC style meter movement.
“PMMC” is an acronym standing for “Permanent Magnet, Moving
Coil”. In essence, a PMMC meter movement is built like a small
DC electric motor, with limited range of motion.

Notes:
Many textbooks provide good illustrations of PMMC meter movements. Your
students may find some electronic images of PMMC meter movements on
the internet. If possible, have a video projector in the classroom for
projecting images like this that your students download.

12) We know that connecting a sensitive meter movement directly

across the terminals of a substantial voltage source (such as a battery)
is a Bad Thing. So, I want you to determine what other component(s)
must be connected to the meter movement to limit the current through
its coil, so that connecting the circuit to a 6-volt battery results in the
meter’s needle moving exactly to the full-scale position:
Notes:
Beginning students sometimes feel “lost” when trying to answer a question like
this. They may know how to apply Ohm’s Law to a circuit, but they do not know
how to design a circuit that makes use of Ohm’s Law for a specific purpose. If this
is the case, you may direct their understanding through a series of questions such
as this:

Why does the meter movement “peg” if directly connected to the battery?
What type of electrical component is good at limiting current?
How might we connect this component to the meter (series or parallel)? (Draw
both configurations and let the student determine for themselves which
connection pattern fulfills the goal of limiting current to the meter.)
The math is simple enough in this question to allow solution without the use of a
calculator. Whenever possible, I challenge students during discussion time to
perform any necessary arithmetic “mentally” (i.e. without using a calculator), even
if only to estimate the answer. I find many American high school graduates
unable to do even very simple arithmetic without a calculator, and this lack of skill
causes them no small amount of trouble. Not only are these students helpless
without a calculator, but they lack the ability to mentally check their calculator-
derived answers, so when they do use a calculator they have no idea whether
their answer is even close to being correct.
Two things would happen: first, the movement would most likely be
damaged from excessive current. Secondly, the needle would move
to the left instead of the right (as it normally should), because the
polarity is backward.
Notes:
When an electromechanical meter movement is overpowered, causing the needle
to “slam” all the way to one extreme end of motion, it is commonly referred to as
“pegging” the meter. I’ve seen meter movements that have been “pegged” so
badly that the needles are bent from hitting the stop!

Based on your students knowledge of meter movement design, ask them to tell
you what they think might become damaged in a severe over-power incident
such as this. Tell them to be specific in their answers

13) Calculate the necessary resistance value and power rating for Rrange in order to
make the meter movement respond as a voltmeter with a range of 0 to 100 volts:

Rrange = 99.35 k Ω,1/8 watt will be sufficient.

Notes:
This is really nothing more than a simple series circuit problem, although the
context of it being a voltmeter seems to confuse some students. If you find a
large percentage of your class not understanding where to begin in a problem
such as this, it means they really don’t understand series circuits - all they learned
to do when studying series resistor circuits before is to follow an easy sequence
of steps to find voltages and currents in series resistor circuits. They did not learn
the concepts well enough to abstract to something that looks just a little bit
different.

14) Calculate the necessary resistance value and power rating for Rrange in order to
make the meter movement respond as a voltmeter with a range of 0 to 50 volts:

Rrange = 830.83 k Ω,  18 18 watt will be sufficient.

Notes:
This is really nothing more than a simple series circuit problem, although the
context of it being a voltmeter seems to confuse some students. If you find a
large percentage of your class not understanding where to begin in a problem
such as this, it means they really don’t understand series circuits - all they learned
to do when studying series resistor circuits before is to follow an easy sequence
of steps to find voltages and currents in series resistor circuits. They did not learn
the concepts well enough to abstract to something that looks just a little bit
different.

15) Calculate the necessary resistance values to give this multi-range voltmeter the
ranges indicated by the selector switch positions:
R1 = 39 k Ω
R2 = 199 k Ω
R3 = 499 k Ω
R4 = 999 k Ω
R5 = 1.999 M Ω
Notes:
This is really nothing more than a set of simple series circuit problems, although
the context of it being a voltmeter seems to confuse some students. If you find a
large percentage of your class not understanding where to begin in a problem
such as this, it means they really don’t understand series circuits - all they learned
to do when studying series resistor circuits before is to follow an easy sequence
of steps to find voltages and currents in series resistor circuits. They did not learn
the concepts well enough to abstract to something that looks just a little bit
different.

16) Calculate the necessary resistance values to give this multi-range voltmeter the
ranges indicated by the selector switch positions:
R1 = 99 k Ω
R2 = 300 k Ω
R3 = 600 k Ω
R4 = 1 M Ω
R5 = 3 M Ω
Hint: if you need help getting started in this problem, begin with
calculating the value of R 1.
Notes:
This is really nothing more than a set of simple series circuit problems, although
the context of it being a voltmeter seems to confuse some students. If you find a
large percentage of your class not understanding where to begin in a problem
such as this, it means they really don’t understand series circuits - all they learned
to do when studying series resistor circuits before is to follow an easy sequence
of steps to find voltages and currents in series resistor circuits. They did not learn
the concepts well enough to abstract to something that looks just a little bit
different.

You should point out to your students how the series arrangement of the range
resistors lends itself to more common resistance values, as opposed to having a
separate range resistor for each range. There is a downside to this design,
however: reliability. Discuss with your students the consequences of “open”
resistor faults in both types of voltmeter designs.

Ideally, should a voltmeter have a very low input resistance, or a very

high input resistance? (Input resistance being the amount of electrical
resistance intrinsic to the meter, as measured between its test leads.)
Explain your answer

Ideally, a voltmeter should have the greatest amount of input

resistance possible. This is important when using it to measure
voltage sources and voltage drops in circuits containing large
amounts of resistance.
Notes:
The answer to this question is related to the very important principle of meter
loading. Technicians, especially, have to be very aware of meter loading, and how
erroneous measurements may result from it. The answer is also related to how
voltmeters are connected with the circuits under test: always in parallel!
17) Explain what the ohms-per-volt sensitivity rating of an analog voltmeter means.
Many analog voltmeters exhibit a sensitivity of 20 kΩ per volt. Is it better for a
voltmeter to have a high ohms-per-volt rating, or a low ohms-per-volt rating?
Why?
The “ohms-per-volt” sensitivity rating of a voltmeter is an
expression of how many ohms of input resistance the meter has,
per range of volt measurement. The higher this figure is, the better
the voltmeter.

Notes:
If students have analog voltmeters in their possession (which I greatly
encourage them to have), the ohms-per-volt sensitivity rating is often found
in a corner of the meter scale, in fine print. If not, the rating should be found
in the user’s guide that came with the meter.

18) Fundamentally, what single factor in a voltmeter’s design establishes its ohms-
per-volt sensitivity rating?
If your answer is, “the value of the series resistor(s),” you are
incorrect.

Notes:
Students’ immediate impression is that the range resistor value must
establish the sensitivity rating, because they see the resistor as having the
most impact on input resistance. However, some quick calculations with
different range resistor values prove otherwise! Meter sensitivity is
independent of any series-connected range resistor values.

You might want to ask your students why meter movement coil resistance is
not a factor in determining voltmeter sensitivity. Challenge your students
with setting up sample circuit problems to prove the irrelevance of coil
resistance on voltmeter sensitivity. Let them figure out how to set up the
problems, rather than you setting up the problems for them!

19) Determine the different range values of this multi-range voltmeter:

All components on the printed circuit board are “surface-mount,”
soldered onto the top surfaces of the copper traces. The switch (SW1)
schematic diagram is shown to the immediate right of the circuit
.board, with resistor values shown below the circuit board

Ranges = 10 V, 25 V, and 50 V.
Notes:
Determining the voltage ranges for this voltmeter is simply an exercise in Ohm’s
Law. The arithmetic is simple enough to permit solution without the use of
calculators, so challenge your students during discussion time to work through
the math “the old-fashioned way”.

20) What if this voltmeter suddenly stopped working when set in its middle range.
The upper and lower ranges still function just fine, though. Identify the most
likely source of the problem.
The middle contact in switch SW2 is open. This, despite being the
most likely failure, is not the only possible failure that could cause this
problem (middle range not functioning)!

Challenge question: explain how you could verify the nature of the
fault without using another meter.
Notes:
Brainstorm some other alternative possibilities for causing the problem, along
with diagnostic procedures to verify each one of them (using another meter, if
necessary). Then, discuss with your students the reason why a switch failure is
more likely than any of the other faults.

21) Suppose you tried to measure the voltage at test point 2 (TP2) with a digital
voltmeter having an input resistance of 10 MΩ. How much voltage would it
indicate? How much voltage should it ideally indicate?

Ideally, of course, this voltage divider circuit should exhibit 7.5 volts

at test point 2. The voltmeter, however, will register only 6.76 volts.
Follow-up question: is the voltmeter registering inaccurately, or is its
connection to the circuit actually changing V TP2? In other words, what
is the actual voltage at TP2 with the voltmeter connected as shown?
Notes:
An analogy I often use to explain meter loading is the use of a pressure gauge to
measure the air pressure in a pneumatic tire. In order to measure the pressure,
some of the air must be let out of the tire, which of course changes the tire’s air
pressure.

And in case you are wondering: no, this is not an example of Heisenberg’s
Uncertainty Principle, popularly misunderstood as error introduced by
measurement. The Uncertainty Principle is far more profound than this!