Instrumentation and

measurement

Chapter 1
Basic Concept Of Measurements And
Instrumentation
Contents
 Introduction
 Nature of Measurements
 Basic requirements for a meaningful measurement
 Functions of measurement systems
 Types of Measurement
 Methods of measurements
 Classification of instruments
 Elements in measurement system
 Performance characteristics of instruments
 Levels of measurement
Introduction
• Measurement is the process of determining the size, quantity, or
degree of something by comparing it to a standard unit.
• The value obtained on measuring is called its magnitude. The
magnitude of a quantity is expressed as numbers in its unit.
• Measurement involves the use of instruments as a physical means of
determining quantities or variables.
• Instrumentation refers to the technology and techniques used for
measurement and control of physical quantities in various fields.
• Measurement is essential in science, engineering, economics, and
everyday life, allowing us to assess, compare, and make decisions
based on quantitative information.
Measurement Standards
 A standard in measurement is a reference used to ensure
consistency and accuracy across different measurements.
 Standards define a fixed value for a specific unit (like a meter for
length or a kilogram for mass) so that measurements can be
universally understood and comparable.
 Standards bodies
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
International Electro technical Commission (IEC)
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM
International)
British Standards Institution (BSI)
Measurement goes side by side with standards and it involves 3 main
participants i.e.
1. The measurand
2. The measurement system
3. The observer or control unit.
Nature of Measurements

• It should be quantitative in nature.

• It must be precise and accurate (instrument).
• It must be reliable.
• It must be valid.
• It must be objective in nature.
Basic requirements for a meaningful measurement
Two requirements which are to be satisfied to get good result from
the measurement.
 The standard must be accurately known and internationally
accepted.
 The apparatus and experimental procedure adopted for
comparison must be provable.
Functions of measurement systems

• Three Basic Functions

1. Indicating - displaying the measured value to the user.
2. Recording - capturing and storing the measured values for future
reference.
3. Controlling - involves using the measured values to control a
process or system.
• A particular instrument may serve any one or all three of these
functions simultaneously.
Types of Measurement
1. Qualitative Measurement: Perceiving the characteristics of an
object, person or activity in the form of a quality
• Ex. describing a student as very intelligent, or dull is qualitative
measurement.
2. Quantitative Measurement: Measuring the characteristics of an
object, person or activity in the form of quantity
• Ex. to measure the I.Q (Intelligence Quotient) of a student as 140,
120 or 110 is quantitative measurement.
Methods of measurements
1. Direct Measurement: the unknown quantity (called measurand) is
directly compared against a standard.
• Ex: Length: Using a ruler or caliper to measure the length of an
object.
• Mass: Using a balance to determine the mass of a substance.
• Importance: Direct measurement is straightforward and often
provides the most immediate results.
2. Indirect Measurement: involves measuring related quantities and
calculating the desired quantity using mathematical relationships.
• Ex: Volume: Determining the volume of an irregular object.
• Importance: Indirect measurements can be useful when direct
measurement is difficult or impossible.
 Classification of instruments
4. Based on the Output Signal Type:
1. Based on Function or Purpose:
 Analog Instruments
 Measuring Instruments
 Controlling Instruments  Digital Instruments
 Recording Instruments 5. Based on Application Field:
 Indicating Instruments  Industrial Instruments
2. Based on the Operating  Medical Instruments
Principle:  Laboratory Instruments
 Mechanical Instruments
 Electrical Instruments
6. Based on Portability:
 Electronic Instruments  Portable Instruments
 Stationary Instruments
3. Based on the Nature of the
Measurement:
 Contact Instruments
 Non-contact Instruments
Elements in measurement system
• In measurement system we have 3 elements which are:
1. Primary sensing element- is the first component in a measurement
system that directly interacts with the physical quantity to be
measured.
2. Variable conversion element - converts the signal from a primary
sensing element into a different form that can be more easily
processed, transmitted, or displayed.
3. Data presentation element - displays, records, or presents the
measured data in a form that can be easily interpreted by users.
Performance characteristics of instruments
• Two basic characteristic of an instrument for selecting the most
suitable instrument for specific measuring jobs:
1. Static characteristic: quantities or parameters measuring
instruments that do not vary with respect to time
 Application involved measurement of quantity that are either
constant or varies slowly with time
2. Dynamic characteristic: used to measure the quantities or
parameters that vary very quickly with respect to time.
Static characteristics of instruments

• Accuracy - is a measure of how close the output reading of the

instrument is to the correct value.
• Precision – If an instrument indicates the same value repeatedly when
it is used to measure the same quantity under same circumstances for
any number of times, then we can say that the instrument has
high precision.
Static characteristics of instruments
• Sensitivity of measurement - is a measure of the change in
instrument output that occurs when the quantity being measured
changes by a given amount. Thus, sensitivity is the ratio:
𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
• 𝑆𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
• Resolution - If the output of an instrument will change only when
there is a specific increment of the input, then that increment of the
input is called Resolution.
Dynamic characteristics:
• Various dynamic characteristics are described below-
• Speed of response - the rapidity with which an instrument or
measurement system responds to changes in measured quantity.
• Measuring Lag - the delay in the response of an instrument to a
change in the measured quantity.
• Fidelity - the ability of the system to reproduce the output in the
same form as the input.
• Dynamic Error - the difference between the true value of the
quantity changing with time and the value indicated by the
instrument if no static error is assumed.
Levels of measurement
1. Nominal: the data can only be categorized
 No specific order or ranking.
 the simplest.
 Examples include gender, race, or types.
 You can count frequency but cannot perform mathematical
operations.
2. Ordinal: the data can be categorized and ranked
 The intervals between ranks are not uniform or measurable.
 Examples include rankings (like 1st, 2nd, 3rd) or levels of
satisfaction (e.g., very satisfied, satisfied, neutral, dissatisfied).
 You can determine order but cannot measure the exact difference
between categories.
Levels of measurement

3. Interval: the data can be categorized, ranked, and evenly spaced

 There’s no true zero point.
 Examples include temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, and
calendar years.
4. Ratio: the data can be categorized, ranked, evenly spaced, and has a
natural zero.
 allowing for meaningful multiplication and division.
 Examples include height, weight, age, and income.
 Home work #1

1. What is the Significance of measurement?