Tutorial

Chapter 1: BASIC MEASUREMENT CONCEPTS

1. Define the terms accuracy, error, precision, resolution, expected value and
sensitivity.
2. State the categories of major error.
3. A person using an ohmmeter reads the measured value as 470, when the actual
value is 47 . What kinds of error does this represent?
4. State the three types of systematic errors, giving examples of each.
5. State the difference between accuracy and precision of a measurement.
6. Define the following terms:
a. Average value/ Arithmetic mean
b. Deviation
c. Average deviation
d. Standard deviation
7. State the classifications of the standards.
8. What are the primary standards? Where are they used?
9. What is the difference between secondary standards and working standards?
10. The current through a resistor is 2.5A, but the measurement yields a value of 2.45A.
Calculate the absolute error and the percentage error of the measurement.
11. The value of a resistance is 4.7k, while measurements yield a value of 4.63 k,
calculate:
a. The relative accuracy of measurement
b. % accuracy

12. The output voltage of an amplifier was measured at eight different intervals using the
same digital voltmeter with the following results:
20.00, 19.80, 19.85, 20.05, 20.10, 19.90, 20.25, 19.95 V.
Which is the most precise measurement?
14. A 270 10% resistance is connected to a power supply source operating at 300V
dc. What range of current would flow if the resistor varied over the range of 10% of
its expected value? What is the range of error in the current?
15. A voltmeter is accurate to 98% of it full scale reading.
a.
b.

If a voltmeter read 200V on 500V range, what is the absolute error?

What is the percentage error reading of part (a)

16.

Give the basic principle of a D Arsonval movement.

17.

Explain the operation of a PMMC movement.

18.

State the operating principle of an electrodynamometer.

19.

What is the criteria for balance of a Wheatstone bridge

20.

Figure 1 shows the resistive circuit, determine:

(i)

The value of V1 (using voltmeter sensitivity 1k / volt)

(ii)

The value of V2 (using voltmeter sensitivity 2k / volt)

21.

Analysis your answers according to part b(i) and b(ii)

Figure 1
23

In a survey of 12 owners of certain models of car, the following figures for

average petrol consumption were reported.
29.6, 32.4, 39.4, 28.9, 30.0, 33.3, 31.4, 29.5, 30.5, 31.7, 33.0, 29.2
Determine:
i.

the arithmetic mean

ii.

the deviation of each value

iii.

the average deviation for the data

iv.

the standard deviation for the data

v.

the precision of the 3rd and 9th

measurement, and

compare which reading most precise.

25.

A constant uniform deviation of the operation of an instrument is known as a

systematic error. There are three types. List and explain each type.

26.

Gives two advantages and two disadvantages for each of the following meter:
(i)

Electrodynamometer

(ii)

Moving iron movement

27.

The following questions refer to the instrument shown in Figure 2.

i.

Name the instrument in Figure 2 and state the difference between this
instrument and the Darsonval meter.

ii.

Explain what happens if the polarity of wiring (current) at terminals is reversed.

iii.

The instrument has the following data:

Number of turns = 150
Width of the coil = 2.5cm
Depth of the coil = 8m
Flux density in the gap = 0.2Wb/m2

Calculate the deflecting torque when carrying a current of 15 mA and the deflection,
if the control spring constant is 2 x 10-6Nm/Degree.

Figure 2

28.

The basic PMMC circuit can be function as ammeters. This ammeter just can
measure small current range due to the small and light coil inside the meter.
a) State the modification for basic PMMC circuit for large measurement
current purpose. Your answer must provide with circuit diagram before
and after modification.
b) How the range of d.c ammeter can be extended. Derive the expressions
for the resistance of different sections.
c) Design a multirange ammeter with the range of 1A, 5A, 25A and 125A
employing individual shunts in each case. A Darsonval movement with
internal resistance of 730 and full scale deflection of 5mA is available.
(Ans: 3.67 , 0.73 , 0.146 , 0.0292 )

29.

The basic PMMC circuit can be converted to voltmeter with some modification
to their basic circuit.
a)
b)
c)

State the modification for voltage measurement purpose to basic circuit

of PMMC, and draw circuit after modification.
How the range of d.c voltmeter can be extended. Derive the expressions
for the resistance of different sections.
Design a multirange voltmeter by convert the DArsonval movement with
full scale 50A and internal resistance of 1800 . It is to be converted
into 0-1V, 0-5V, 0-25V and 0-125V multirange voltmeter using individual
multipliers.
(Ans: 18.2k, 98.2 k, 498.2 k, 2498.2 k)

d) What is sensitivity of voltmeter? Explain

e) What is loading effect? Explain with suitable example.
f) State three precautions to be taken while using each of the following meters:
i.
Ammeters
ii.
Voltmeters

30.

A basic DArsonval meter has an internal resistance of 60 and a full scale

deflection of 3mA.
(a)

Convert the meter above into a multirange dc voltmeter with voltage

range of 0 10 V, 0 50 V, 0 100 V and 0 250 V and draw the
circuit.

(b)

31.

Calculate the values of multiplier for each range.

A DArsonval movement with an internal resistance of 100 and full scale

current of 50A is used.
(a)

Design an Aryton shunt to provide an ammeter with a current range of

0 1 mA, 0 10 mA, 0 50 mA and 0 100 mA.

(b)
32.

Draw the circuit of the multirange ammeter in part (a).

An unbalanced Wheatstone bridge is given in Figure 2. Calculate the current

through the galvanometer.

Figure2

33.

List two major applications of the Wheatstones bridge and explain in detail for
each application.

Chapter 2 : BASIC ELECTRONIC MEASUREMENTS

1.

What are the major components of CRT?

2.

Draw the basic block diagram of an oscilloscope and explain the functions of each
block.

3.

How is the electron beam focused on to a fine spot on the face of the CRT?

4.

Explain the functions of various controls on the front panel of a CRO.

(a)

State the various measurements possible on oscilloscope.

(b)

The various front panel control of simple oscilloscope can be divided into three
categories:

i. Basic controls:
ii. Vertical Section:
iii. Horizontal section:

On-Off, Focus and Intensity

Vertical scale, DC, AC, Ground and Position
Time base control, position

Based on the above front panel control categories, explain the function of the
intensity, vertical scale and time base control.

(c)

In an experiment, the voltage across a 15 k resistor is applied to oscilloscope The

screen shows a sinusoidal signal of total vertical occupancy 4 cm and total horizontal
occupancy of 4 cm. The front-panel controls of V/div and time/div are on 5V/div and
2 ms/div respectively. Based on the information given:
i. Draw the waveform on the oscilloscope screen shown in Figure 3.
ii. Calculate the effective value of the sinusoidal waveform Vrms.
iii. Calculate its frequency.
iv. Determine the mathematical expression for the sinusoidal voltage as a function
of time.

Figure 3

Chapter 3: SIGNAL GENERATORS

1. State the important block diagram of simple signal generator and draw the block
diagram.
2. List any four requirements of the laboratory type signal generator.
3. Explain two features of function generator.

Chapter 4: TRANSDUCERS
1.

Define the transducer.

2.

The transducer has a physically compatible with its intended application. State and
define four of the important requirements when selecting the suitable transducer.

3.

List three types of temperature transducers. Give three comparisons between each
type of temperature transducers based on the temperature range, sensitivity, stability
and linearity.

4.

State the three of advantages and limitations of thermistor.

5.

Explain the requirements of the flow measurement.

6.

Define the term of mechanical flow meter. Give the examples of flow meter with the
basic principle and applications.

7.

Differentiate between thermistor and thermocouple.

8.

State the three of advantages and limitations of thermistor.

Chapter 5: SIGNAL CONDITIONING AND DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS

1.

Define the signal conditioning.

2.

List four elements of the signal conditioning.

3.

List three advantages of signal conditioning.

4.

At 40oC, the Wheatstone bridge as shown in Figure 1 is in balance condition when

R1=1000, R2=842, and R3=500 . Meanwhile, R4 is copper Resistance Temperature
Detector (RTD).The internal resistance of galvanometer, Rg=100 and the temperature
coefficient of the RTD, =0.0042/oC. If the RTD is dipped into boiling water (100 oC),
determine the deflection of galvanometer if its sensitivity is 1mm/A.

R1

R2

R3

R4

E=10V

Figure 1
5.

Draw the schematic diagram for inverting and non-inverting amplifier.

6.

Based on the circuit in Figure 2, calculate the output voltage, VOUT.

Figure 2
7.

Calculate the value of input resistance is needed in the given circuit to produce the
given output voltage in Figure 3.

Figure 3

APPENDIX

FORMULA
1.

Vp = (2)(Vrms)

2.

3.

d n xn x

4.

Dav

5.

6.

Pr ecision 1

7.

d BxAxNxI

8.

c K

9.

A 1

10.

Aryton Shunt Formula: I sh R sh I m Rm

11.

Series Type Ohmmeter Formula: R1 Rh

x1 x 2 ........ x n
n

R2

12.

d 1 ...... d n
n

d12 d 22 ....... d n2
n 1
Xn Xn
Xn

Yn X n
Yn

I fsd xRm xRh

V

and

I fsd xRm xRh

V I fsd xRh

Wien Bridge Formula:

R2 R1 C 3
1
C 3 R1

and
C1 R3
R4 R3 C1