Taif University

Mechatronics Track
College of Engineering
Measurements
Mechanical Engineering Dept.
1437-1438
Sheet No.1: Introduction
1. In this course, we often need to generate plots using Microsoft Excel/MATLAB.
For practice, create an Excel spreadsheet with two columns, t (time in seconds)
and g(t) (a function of t, measured in volts). Let t range from 0 to 1.0 s with a
time increment of 0.01 s (101 rows of data). The function is

(a) Create columns for t and g(t) and plot g(t) as a function of t for t = 0 to 1.0 s.
Make the plot nice looking, with a white (not gray) background, gridlines, labels
for the horizontal and vertical axes, and minor tick marks on the axes. The timeaxis range must be 0 to 1.0 s, and the g(t)-axis range must be appropriate for the
function. Use both a smooth line and symbols to represent the function. Make
sure your name is on the top of the spreadsheet. Hand in both the first page of
the spreadsheet and the plot, which can be on the same page to save paper.
(b) Count the number of wavelengths of the function in this time interval, and
calculate the period (T) and frequency (f) of the function. Compare to the
frequency predicted by the above equation.
(c) What is the peak-to-peak amplitude of the function?
(d) What is the radian frequency () of the function? What is the DC offset of the
function?

2. The following exercises provide you with some practice with significant digits
and units. Be sure to give all answers to the correct number of significant digits
and units. For each case, tell how many significant digits there are in the answer,

and give your answer in both engineering and scientific (exponential) notation,
e.g. 356.2 and 3.562 x 102, and with the proper units. Show all your work,
including all unit conversions.
(a) Students mass is 75.6 kg. The gravitational acceleration on the moon is 1.6
m/s2. How much does Bill weigh on the moon in newtons?
(b) A machine lifts a mass of 35. kg to a height of 4.53 m in 2.055 minutes. The
local gravitational acceleration is 9.80 m/s2. Calculate the power (in watts) of the
machine.
(c) A simple electrical circuit is constructed, consisting of a power supply and a
resistor. The resistance (R) is measured to be 2.10 k. The applied voltage (V)
is 5.2054 V DC. How much current (in milliamperes) flows through the resistor?
Hint: Recall Ohms law, i.e. V = IR.
(d) An electric motor draws 13.25 amps of current at a voltage of 110 V DC. How
much power does the motor?
(e) A sophisticated sonar system on a boat measures the time it takes for a sound
signal to travel to the bottom of a lake and back up again. The measured time is
0.2465 seconds, and the speed of sound in the water is 1483.0 m/s. How deep is
the lake at this location in units of meters?

3. An orifice meter is used to measure the volume flow rate in a pipe. It takes 12
readings (in m3/s): 0.0182, 0.0188, 0.0179, 0.0183, 0.0182, 0.0176, 0.0191,
0.0185, 0.0184, 0.0180, 0.0178, and 0.0186. The true volume flow rate is
0.017920 m3/s.
(a) Estimate the bias error of the instrument.
(b) For each reading, estimate the accuracy error (inaccuracy).
(c) For each reading, estimate the precision error.
(d) Calculate the sum of all the inaccuracies and the sum of all the precision errors.
(e) Calculate the data standard deviation.

4.

A tachometer has a range of 0 to 10,000 rpm. The manufacturer claims a

precision of +/- 0.2% of full scale. This tachometer is used to measure the
rotational speed of a turbine. The true speed is 1750 rpm.

(a) Assuming no bias error, write the rotational speed in standard format, i.e. n =_
+/-_ rpm.
(b) Suppose a bias error of +5 rpm exists in the instrument, due to a calibration
error. The engineer is not aware of this bias error. Write the rotational speed that
the engineer would record, in standard format.
(c) If the actual rotational speed increases to 8230 rpm, and the bias error remains at
+5 rpm, write n in standard format and discuss which case (the 1750 or the 8230
rpm case) is more accurate on a percentage basis.
(d) Repeat Part (c) for the case in which there is no bias error.
5. In dimensional analysis, one must write the dimensions of any parameter in
terms of primary dimensions. For example, the dimensions of force are the
dimensions of mass times acceleration, i.e. mL/t2. This can be expressed as

where {something} means the dimensions of something. For each of the

following quantities, find the dimensions in terms of primary dimensions only.
(a) volume flow rate (Q)
(b) moment (M)
(c) Youngs modulus, also called the modulus of elasticity (E)