Measurement

and Measuring Devices

(Micrometer and Vernier Caliper)
 What are we going to do today?
1) We are going to read and use the
following instruments in measuring
certain quantities:

Micrometer
Vernier Caliper
 The Micrometer
A micrometer allows a measurement of the size
of a body. It is one of the most accurate
mechanical devices in common use.

Parts of a
 Remember!!!
Report to 3 decimal places. Your
instrument is capable of reading up to
thousandths of a millimeter. ( That is why
it is called a micrometer, 10-6 of a meter).
How to read and use the
Micrometer?
How to take reading of micrometer
screw gauge?
Read main scale reading
1.
Read main scale at edge of thimble
Reading main scale = 5.5 mm
2. Read thimble scale reading
Thimble scale reading = 0.28 mm

Reading = Main scale + Thimble

scale
= 5.5 + 0.28
= 5.78 mm
 7

1 2 3 4 6

0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.5

Primary
pointer

Central horizontal
1) The line labeled
line 0 is the primarypointer. When it
lines up with the central horizontal line on the
cylinder, as shown, then the distance between the
measuring rods is exactly an integral or half-integral
number of millimeters.
2)The left-hand side of the thimble has markings all
around it.
3) In this case, then, the distance between the
measuring rods is 7.000 mm. The upward line on
 7

7.
5
7.5+0.000 = 7.500
mm

1) If we rotate the thimble one complete revolution

so it moves to the right, it will look as shown.
2) Now the distance between the measuring rods is
7.500 mm. The downward line on the cylinder
corresponding to 7.5 mm is barely visible.
3) Note that this is all consistent with the fact that
the markings on the cylinder correspond to fifty
divisions for a complete revolution. Thus the
numbers on the thimble correspond to hundredths
 8

0.000

8.000 mm + 0.000 mm = 8.000

mm

One more complete revolution takes the

distance to 8.000 mm, as shown.
 8
0.120 mm

8.000 mm + 0.120 mm = 8.120

mm

Now turn the thimble just a little bit more, and

end up with the situation shown.

We have increased the distance by 0.120 mm

from 8.000, so the distance between the
measuring rods is now 8.120 mm.
 0.120 mm

8.5 mm
8.500 mm + 0.120 mm = 8.620
mm

If we give the thimble one complete further rotation,

we end up with the micrometer as shown above.

Now the distance is 0.120 mm greater than 8.500

mm, so the distance is 8.620 mm.
 0.120 mm

8.5 mm
8.500 mm + 0.124 mm = 8.624
mm

Finally, if we turn the thimble a tiny bit further, it

might end up like the figure above.

Now the distance is greater than 8.620 mm, but

clearly less than 8.630 mm. We might estimate
this reading to be 8.624 mm.
 Depending on your eyes and screen resolution, you
might be fairly confident that the reading is less
than, say, 8.627 mm and similarly confident that it
is greater than 8.621 mm. Thus you might assign a
Reading Error to this measurement of 0.003 mm

So, we would report the distance as 8.624

0.003 mm.
Let us try!!!
3)

Answer: 3.560 mm
5)

Answer: 3.090 mm
Zero error
How to read and use the
Vernier Caliper?
 The Vernier Caliper
This instrument may be used to measure outer
dimensions of objects (using the main jaws),
inside dimensions (using the smaller jaws at the
top), and depths (using the stem).
The reading here is 3.7 mm or 0.37 cm.
The reading here is 15.8 mm or 1.58 cm.
In figure above, the first significant figures are taken as
the main scale reading to the left of the vernier zero,
i.e. 3.4 cm. The remaining digit is taken from the vernier
scale reading that lines up with any main scale reading,
(i.e. 0.60 mm or 0.060 cm) on the vernier scale.
Therefore the reading is 3.460 cm.
In figure 6 the zero and the ten on the vernier
scale both line up with main scale readings,
therefore the reading is 4.000 cm.
Let us try!!!
1)

Answer: 3.090 cm
2)

Answer: 0.810 cm
3)

Answer: 12.168 cm
Zero Error
Okay, that is enough!

Let us try to apply it in

real life.
 Try to measure the quantities of the
following objects. Fill-out the table
below.

Quantities to Micrometer Vernier

Measure Caliper

1) Diameter of
a 50 cent coin
2) Thickness of
a 20 cent coin
3) Thickness of
a wire
 Give me a reading of:
5.66 cm
4.78 cm