06-Sep-17

EMC 201 – Measurement and 
Instrumentation 

Course Outcome
No COURSE OUTCOMES TOPICS HOURS
Topic 1 Introduction to
1
Able to determine the various measurement
1
characteristics of a measurement system Topic 2 General characteristics of
3
measurement system
Able to determine the uncertainty in a set Topic 3 Experimental uncertainty
2 4
of measurement data analysis
Topic 4 Discrete sampling and
3
Able to analyze a time-varying signal and analysis of time-varying signal
3
construct its frequency spectrum Fast Fourier Transform (fft) in
1
MATLAB
Able to analyze a first order measurement Topic 5 Dynamic behavior of
4 system subjected to step and harmonic measuring systems 4
inputs.
Able to explain the working principle and Topic 6 Sensors
5 application of various sensors/sensing 4
elements and determine their sensitivity
Test 1 1
Total 21

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Declaration
The material presented in this lecture was 
adopted from : 
• Mechanical Measurements, 6th ed. – T G 
Beckwith, R D Marangoni, J H Lienhard
• Introduction to Engineering Experimentation, 
3rd ed. – A J Wheeler, A R Ganji
– Will be indicated in slides as (Wheeler, pp. xx) else 
the contents is extracted from Beckwith’s book. 

Topic 1 Introduction to measurement

Outcomes:
At the end of this topic, you should be able to:
1. Explain the purpose and the need of
measurement
2. Explain the functions of the basic elements of a
measurement system
3. Identify the basic elements of a given
measurement system

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Activity 1 (2 minutes):

What is this?
What is it used for?
What is the input
variable?
What is the output?
How does the input
change to output?

Activity 2
No. Measurement Measurand Sensor Signal Display
system conditioner

1. Alcohol bulb
thermometer
2. Tire pressure
gauge
3. Mechanical
dial indicator
4. Fuel gauge

5. Odometer

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1.1 Introduction
• Process of measurement consists of obtaining a
quantitative comparison between a predefined
standard and a measurand:

1.1.1 The Significance of Mechanical Measurement

• Measurement provides quantitative information

on the actual state of physical variables and
processes that otherwise could only be estimated

• Measurement provides a comparison between

what was intended and what was actually
achieved.

• Many daily operations require measurement for

proper performance.

• To be useful, measurement must be reliable.

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1.1.2 Fundamental Methods of Measurement

Two basic methods of measurement:

1. Direct comparison with either a primary or a

secondary standard and

2. Indirect comparison through the use of a

calibrated system.

secondary standard calibrated system

Indirect comparison

Amplification (processing) unit: Vernier scale

Calibrated systems

Direct comparison

Secondary standard

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Primary standard
for mass

The International Prototype

Kilogram (IPK) is an artifact
standard or prototype that is
defined to be exactly one
kilogram mass.

1.2 The Generalized Measuring System

1.2.1 Three stages in a measurement system

•Most measuring systems fall within the framework

of a general arrangement consisting of three phases
or stages:

Stage 1. Detection-transduction (sensor-transducer)

Stage 2. Signal-conditioning
Stage 3. Terminating (readout-recording) stage

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Display
system

Signal
conditioner
Sensor

First, or Sensor-Transducer, Stage

• Primary function of first stage – detect or sense

the measurand
• Should be insensitive to all other possible input
• Unwanted sensitivity is measuring error:
- Noise (varies rapidly)
- Drift (varies slowly)

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Second, or Signal-conditioning, Stage

• Purpose of second stage – modify transduced

information so that it is acceptable to the third
stage
• May perform one or more basic operations, e.g.
- filtering to remove nose
- amplification
- differentiation etc.

Third, or Readout-Recording, Stage

• Provides information sought in a form

comprehensible to human senses or a controller
• Usually presented in one of the following forms:
- relative displacement
- digital form

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• To illustrate a very simple measuring

system consider the familiar tire gage
used for checking automobile tire
pressure:

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Figure 2.2 Mercury-in-glass thermometer.

Wheeler, pp. 8

• An example of a more complex system:

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Activity 2

No. Measurement Measurand Sensor Signal Display

system conditioner

1 Alcohol bulb
thermometer
2 Tire pressure
gauge
3 Mechanical
dial indicator
4 Fuel gauge

5 Odometer

Tire pressure gauge

Alcohol bulb
Mechanical dial indicator
thermometer

Fuel gauge
Odometer

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1.3 Types of Input Quantities

1.3.1 Time Dependence
• Mechanical quantities, in addition to their
inherent defining characteristics, also have
distinctive time-amplitude properties, which may
be classified as follows:
1. Static - constant in time
2. Dynamic - varying in time
(a) Steady-state periodic
(b) Nonrepetitive or transient
i. Single pulse or aperiodic
ii. Continuing or random

1. Static—constant in time
2. Dynamic—varying in time
(a) Steady-state periodic t
(b) Nonrepetitive or transient
i. Single pulse or aperiodic
ii. Continuing or random

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1.3.2 Analog and Digital Signals

• An analog signal has a value at every instant in

time, and it usually varies smoothly in magnitude
• A digital signal is a set of discrete numbers, each
corresponding to the value of the analog signal at
a single specific instant of time

towaengg.tradeindia.com gggtech.com

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Mechanical rotation to electrical output

1.4 Measurement Standards

• Regardless of measurement method, we must

employ a basis of comparison – standardized
units

• Standards must be precisely defined and method

of conversion from system to system must be
mutually agreed upon

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1.4.1 SI based unit

Image source: Internet

1.5 Calibration

• Calibration procedure establishes the correct

output scale for the measuring system

• The measured readings are compared to the

known “true” values obtained from the
standard/equipment with known accuracy and
the errors are determined.

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• Single-point calibration - single simultaneous

observation of input and output to fix a
constant of proportionality.

Output

Output = k × Input
Single-point calibration

Input

• Multipoint calibration - a number of different

input values are applied to improve the
accuracy of the calibration.

Output

Multi-point calibration

Input

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1.6 Uncertainty: Accuracy of Results

• Error is defined as the difference between the

measured result and the true value of the
quantity being measured

• Uncertainty - likely upper bound on the

magnitude of the error (e.g. ± xx)

• Errors can be of two basic types: bias (or

systematic) error and precision (or random) error

Learning Points

1. What is the difference between direct comparison

and indirect comparison methods of
measurement?

2. What are the three main elements of a

measurement system and what are their
functions?

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