Government of Tamilnadu

Department of Employment and Training

Course : TNPSC Group II Exam

Subject : Physics
Topic : Scientific Instruments

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Commissioner,
Department of Employment and Training.
 SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

Air Cooler An apparatus for cooling the air. Here air is blown
through water and atmosphere cooled.

Altimeter An instrument used in aircrafts for measuring altitudes

Ammeter An instrument used for measuring electric current.

Anemometer An instrument to measure the speed and pressure of the wind.

Audiometer It measures intensity of sound

Beaufort scale It is used to measure wind force.

Barograph: An instrument which registers automatically the altitude

reached by an aeroplane.

Barometer An instrument to measure atmospheric conditions and changes.

Binocular It is used to view distance objects

Callipers A compass with legs for measuring the inside or outside

diameter of bodies.

Calorimeter An instrument used for measuring quantities of heat.

Carburettor An apparatus for charging air with petrol vapours in an internal

combustion engine

Cinematograph An apparatus for projecting pictures on the screen in so rapid a

succession that picture seems to be in motion.

Cresco graph An instrument for recording electrically the response of living

matter to various kinds of stimuli.

Cardiograph Is a medical instrument for tracing heart movements.

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 PHYSICS

Chronometer Is a clock to determine longitude of a vessel at sea.

Cyclotron It is an apparatus for smashing atoms.

Computers These are data-processing machines, which provide the

information according to the requirements

Dictaphone A trade name for a tape recorder.

Dynamo A machine used for transforming mechanical energy into

electrical energy.

Dynamometer It measures electrical powers

Electric Motor Machine for using electricity as a motive power.

Electrometer An instrument for measuring electrical potential differences.

Epidiascope For projecting films as well as images of opaque articles on a

screen

Eudiometer It is a glass tube for measuring volumes changes in the

chemical reactions between gases.

Endoscope It examines internal parts of the body

Fathometer Is an instrument used for measuring depth of the ocean-

Gramophone A machine for reproducing recorded sound

Hydrophone An instrument for measuring the density of liquids with that of

water,

hygrometer An apparatus for measuring the humidity of air.

Internal An engine in which heat energy added the air within the
Combustion working cylinder and converted into mechanical work through
Engine the medium of a piston or by a turbine rotator

Lactometer A typical hygrometer for testing pure milk.

Laser A device to throw a thin beam of light that is carried over great
distances.

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 SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT

Water Meter For measuring gallons of water consumed.

Volta meter For measuring electricity consumed.

Magneto A part of the motor car that converts mechanical energy into
electrical energy.

Manometer For determining the pressure of a gas

Micrometer An instrument for measuring distance of angles

Microphone An instrument which intensifies and renders audibly the

faintest possible sound

Microscope An optical instrument for producing greatly magnified images

of very small objects.

Odometer It is an instrument by which the distance covered by wheeled

vehicles is measured

Periscope Optical instrument used in trench warfare and in submarines

for enabling an observer to see surrounding objects from a
lower level.

Phonograph Is an instrument used for reproducing sound

Photometer Is an apparatus used to compare the illuminating power of two

sources of light.

Pipette It is a glass tube with the aid of which a definite volume of

liquid may be transferred.

Pyrometer Is an instrument for measuring high temperatures.

Radar An instrument to detect the presence of enemy aircraft,

submarine, etc., and also to determine its direction, distance
and speed.

Radiogram A combined radio and gramophone

Refract meter It is an instrument to measure refractive indices

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 PHYSICS

Radiometer An instrument for measuring the radiant energy of light and

heat.

Samaphore System of signalling between two places generally ships

Seismometer It is an apparatus for measuring the origin of earthquakes.

Sextant An instrument for measuring angle

Spark Plug Device for producing an electric spark to set off combustion in
the cylinder of a petrol engine.

Stethoscope A doctor's tool to listen to the beat of the heart

Stereoscope A binocular optical instrument through which a double

Photograph taken from two slightly different angles by two
lenses cameras is viewed.

Speedometer An instrument which registers the speed of the vehicle

Telephone A device by virtue of which two persons at two different places

can communicate. It consists of two main parts (i) a
microphone and (ii) a receiver.

Telstar It is a space communication satellite developed by Bell for

overseas communications. It was launched on July 10, 1962
from Cape Kennedy (U.S.A.). Telstar, in addition to telephone
calls, enables television microwave transmissions to be made
from and to any country with a receiving and transmitting
station.

Telemeter Is an apparatus for recording physical events happening at a

distance

Theodolite An instrument for use in land surveying for measuring vertical

and horizontal angles.

Thermometer It is an instrument to measure the temperature.

Thermionic Used in wireless telegraphy and radio broadcasting.

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 SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT

valve

Thermostat It is an instrument which controls temperature automatically. It

is used in refrigerators, air- conditioners, geysers etc.

Transformer It is an electric apparatus which is used to convert high voltage

to low and vice versa.

Tachometer An instrument for measuring the speed of aeroplanes, motors,

etc.

Television It is the transmission of images of moving objects by radio

waves.

Telescope An instrument designed to view the distant object easily.

Tele printer An instrument which prints automatically messages sent from

one place to another on telegraph lines.

Viscometer Is an instrument to measure viscosity.

Voltmeter It is an instrument to measure the potential difference across

two points of an electrical circuit.

Volta meter It is an apparatus for producing electrolysis in liquids

Wattmeter Is an instrument for the direct measurement of power in watt of

an electrical circuit.

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