ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
1.4 Terms in Measurement
1.4.1 Sensitivity
Sensitivity of the instrument is defined as the ratio of the magnitude of the output
signal to the magnitude of the input signal.
a. It denotes the smallest change in the measured variable to which the
instruments respond.
b. Sensitivity has no unique unit. It has wide range of the units which
dependent up on the instrument or measuring system.
1.4.2 Readability
Readability is a word which is frequently used in the analog measurement. The
readability is depending on the both the instruments and observer.
a. Readability is defined as the closeness with which the scale of an analog
instrument can be read.
b. The susceptibility of a measuring instrument to having its indications
converted to a meaningful number. It implies the ease with which
observations can be made accurately.
c. For getting better readability the instrument scale should be as high as
possible.
1.4.3 Repeatability
Repeatability may be defined as the closeness of agreement among the number of
consecutive measurements of the output for the same value of input under the same
operating conditions. It may be specified in terms of units for a given period of time.
1.4.4 Reproducibility
Reproducibility may be defined as the closeness of agreement among the repeated
measurements of the output for the same value of input under the same operating
conditions over a period of time. Perfect reproducibility means that the instrument
calibration does not gradually shift over a long period of time.
Mr.P. Navin Jass, AP/MECH ME 8501 METROLOGY & MEASUREMENTS
ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
1.4.5 Calibration
Calibration is essential that the equipment/instrument used to measure a given
physical quantity is validated. The process of validation of the measurements to ascertain
whether the given physical quantity conforms to the original/national standard of
measurement is known as traceability of the standard.
Calibration is achieved by comparing the measuring instrument with the following:
(a) a primary standard, (b) a known source of input, and (c) a secondary standard that
possesses a higher accuracy than the instrument to be calibrated.
1.4.6 ACCURACY
Accuracy is the degree to which the measured value of the quality characteristic
agrees with the true value. The difference between the true value and the measured
value is known as error of measurement. It is practically difficult to measure exactly
the true value and therefore a set of observations is made whose mean value is taken
as the true value of the quality measured.
Fig. 1.2 Accuracy and precision
(a) Precise but not accurate (b) Accurate but not precise (c) Precise and accurate (d)
Not precise and not accurate
[source: “Engineering Metrology & Measurements”, N.V. Raghavendra., page-07]
1.4.7 PRECISION
The terms precision and accuracy are used in connection with the performance of
the instrument. Precision is the repeatability of the measuring process. It refers to the
group of measurements for the same characteristics taken under identical conditions.
Mr.P. Navin Jass, AP/MECH ME 8501 METROLOGY & MEASUREMENTS
ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
It indicates to what extent the identically performed measurements agree with each
other. If the instrument is not precise it will give different (widely varying) results for
the same dimension when measured again and again. The set of observations will
scatter about the mean. The scatter of these measurements is designated as σ, the
standard deviation. It is used as an index of precision. The less the scattering more
precise is the instrument. Thus, lower, the value of σ, the more precise is the
instrument.
Mr.P. Navin Jass, AP/MECH ME 8501 METROLOGY & MEASUREMENTS