Measurements

“Messen ist Wissen”

– Knowledge is measurement.

Why measure?
– Measurement is perhaps one of the most
fundamental concepts in science. Without the
ability to measure, It would be difficult for
scientists to conduct experiments or form
theories.
 Metrological definitions

 Scientific Metrology
• the science of measurement, including the
development and provision of measurement
standards

 Industrial Metrology
• the application of measurement science to
manufacturing and other processes

 Legal Metrology
• measurement activity underpinning fair
trade and consumer protection
• What do we really mean by a
measurement?
– The fundamental idea is that of a
quantitative comparison, made using
one of more instruments. So, to
measure the length of a piece of wood,
one might compare it with a tape-
measure on which units of length, such
as centimetres, are marked – the result
of the measurement being expressed as
a number of centimetres.
Accuracy - closeness of the agreement
between measurement result and true
value. (Accuracy is a qualitative term only.)

Precision - a term meaning ‘fineness of

discrimination’ but often misused to mean
‘accuracy’ or ‘uncertainty’. Its use should
be avoided if possible.
Accreditation - formal process that assures
the quality of organisations and the work
they carry out.
Measurand - quantity being measured, such
as time or flow-rate.
- particular quantity subject to measurement

Metrology - the science of measurement.

Metric System - a decimal system of units

based on, among other units, the metre.
Error - deviation from the correct value.

Bias - the opposite of trueness, as occurs when

the indication of a measuring instrument is
consistently too high or low.

Repeatability - closeness of the agreement

between repeated measurements of the same
thing carried out in the same place, by the
same person, on the same equipment, in the
same way, at similar times.
Reproducibility - closeness of the
agreement between measurements of the
same thing carried out in different
circumstances (e.g. by a different person
or a different method, or at a different
time).
Tolerance - the maximum permissible
difference between an actual value and its
specification.
Traceability - a measurement is traceable if
it can be connected to national or
international standards through an
unbroken chain of comparisons.
Trueness - closeness of a measurement to
the average of a large set of
measurements.
Uncertainty (of measurement) - quantified
doubt about the result of a measurement.