Dr/Mohamed Eid Eng.
Reham Hasan Measurements
Sphinx university First Semester
Faculty of Engineering Mechatronics Measurement &
Devices (MEC361)
Level 3 Fall 2025-2026
Tutorial (3)
Name Class
1. The calibration of a spring balance is checked by applying a set of known
masses to it, with the following results:
Known input (grams) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Output reading (grams) 15.5 25 32 45 52 61 74 81
(a) Draw a graph by plotting the data points on the graph paper provided and draw
a best-fit straight line through the data points.
(b) Which of the following static measurement characteristics are evident in the
Input _output graph drawn: nonlinearity, dead space, sensitivity drift, threshold,
zero drift, hysteresis?
(c) Calculate the magnitude of the static measurement characteristics that you have
just identified.
Dr/Mohamed Eid Eng. Reham Hasan Measurements
2. A spring balance is calibrated in an environment at 20 oC and has the following
deflection/load characteristic:
Load (kg) 0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2
Deflection (degrees) 0 36 72 108 144 180
It is then used in an environment at 27C and the following deflection/load
characteristic is measured:
Load (kg) 0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2
Deflection (degrees) 6 43 80 117 154 191
Determine the zero drift and sensitivity drift per degrees Celsius change in ambient
temperature.
3. A balloon is equipped with temperature- and altitude-measuring instruments and
has radio equipment that can transmit the output readings of these instruments back
to ground. The balloon is initially anchored to the ground with the instrument
output readings in steady-state. The altitude-measuring instrument is
approximately zero order and the temperature transducer is approximately first
order with a time constant of 10 seconds. The temperature on the ground, 𝑇0 , is 20
o
C and the temperature That an altitude of x meters is given by the relation:
𝑇ℎ = 𝑇0 − 0.012ℎ
(a) If the balloon is released at time 0, and thereafter rises upward at a velocity of
6 m/s, draw a table showing the temperature and altitude measurements reported
at intervals of 10 seconds over the first 100 seconds of travel. Show also in the
table the error in each temperature reading.
(b) What temperature does the balloon report at an altitude of 8000 m?
(c) What is the error in the temperature reading at this altitude of 8000 m.
Dr/Mohamed Eid Eng. Reham Hasan Measurements
4. The time response of a liquid-in-glass thermometer was tested by plunging it
into a container of boiling water and recording the temperature at intervals of 10
seconds over 2 minutes. The thermometer was initially at 0 oC and the following
readings were recorded:
Time (s) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Temp (C) 0 31 52 67 77 84 89 92 95 96 97 98 99
Draw a graph of the output readings against time. Using this graph, estimate the
time constant of the thermometer.
5. An unmanned submarine is equipped with temperature- and depth-measuring
instruments and has radio equipment that can transmit the output readings of these
instruments back to the surface. The submarine is initially floating on the surface
of the sea with the instrument output readings in steady-state. The depth-measuring
instrument is approximately zero order and the temperature transducer first order
with a time constant of 50 seconds. The water temperature on the sea surface, 𝑇0 ,
is 20 oC and the temperature 𝑇𝑥 at a depth of x meters is given by the relation:
𝑇𝑥 = 𝑇0 − 0.01𝑥
(a) If the submarine starts diving at time 0 and thereafter goes down at a velocity of
0.5 m/s, draw a table showing the temperature and depth measurements reported
at intervals of 100 seconds over the first 500 seconds of travel. Show also in the
table the error in each temperature reading.
(b) What temperature does the submarine report at a depth of 1000 m?
Dr/Mohamed Eid Eng. Reham Hasan Measurements
6. A sheathed thermocouple with a time constant of 4.0 seconds is initially at a
room temperature of 20 oC. It is then plunged into a beaker of boiling water at 100
o
C. Assuming that the thermocouple has a first-order characteristic, what
temperature would it indicate when it had been in the water for 8.0 seconds?
7. Write the general differential equation describing the dynamic response of a
second-order measuring instrument and state the expressions relating the static
sensitivity, undamped natural frequency, and damping ratio to the parameters in
this differential equation. Sketch the instrument response for the cases of heavy
damping, critical damping, and light damping, and state which of these is the usual
target when a second-order instrument is being designed.