measurement
Introduction
Wrong or inaccurate measurements can lead to wrong decisions, which can have serious consequences, costing money and even lives. The human and financial consequences of wrong decisions based on poor measurement being taken in matters as important as environmental change and pollution are almost incalculable. It is important therefore to have reliable and accurate measurements which are agreed and accepted by the relevant authorities worldwide. Metrologists are therefore continuously involved in the development of new measurement techniques, instrumentation and procedures, to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for greater accuracy, increased reliability and rapidity of measurements.
A measurement tells us about a property of something. It might tell us how heavy an object is, or how hot, or how long it is. A measurement gives a number to that property, expressed in the appropriate unit. Physics is an experimental science, and as such it is largely a science of measurement. Measurement is the process of quantifying experience of the external world. Many measuring intsruments of great accuracy and sensitivity have been developed to meet the requirements of the physics laboratory. The measurent of length is of fundamental importance in scientific work hence is fitting to begin experimental work with this type of measurement. The purpose of this appendix is to consider measurement of the length of an object by means of ruler and micrometer and their proble error.
In classical physics and engineering, measurement generally refers to the process of estimating or determining the ratio of a magnitude of a quantitative property or relation to aunit of the same type of quantitative property or relation. A process of measurement involves the comparison of physical quantities of objects or phenomena, or the comparison of relations between objects (e.g. angles). A particular measurement is the result of such a process, normally expressed as the multiple
Wrong or inaccurate measurements can lead to wrong decisions, which can have serious consequences, costing money and even lives. The human and financial consequences of wrong decisions based on poor measurement being taken in matters as important as environmental change and pollution are almost incalculable. It is important therefore to have reliable and accurate measurements which are agreed and accepted by the relevant authorities worldwide. Metrologists are therefore continuously involved in the development of new measurement techniques, instrumentation and procedures, to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for greater accuracy, increased reliability and rapidity of measurements.
A measurement tells us about a property of something. It might tell us how heavy an object is, or how hot, or how long it is. A measurement gives a number to that property, expressed in the appropriate unit. Physics is an experimental science, and as such it is largely a science of measurement. Measurement is the process of quantifying experience of the external world. Many measuring intsruments of great accuracy and sensitivity have been developed to meet the requirements of the physics laboratory. The measurent of length is of fundamental importance in scientific work hence is fitting to begin experimental work with this type of measurement. The purpose of this appendix is to consider measurement of the length of an object by means of ruler and micrometer and their proble error.
In classical physics and engineering, measurement generally refers to the process of estimating or determining the ratio of a magnitude of a quantitative property or relation to aunit of the same type of quantitative property or relation. A process of measurement involves the comparison of physical quantities of objects or phenomena, or the comparison of relations between objects (e.g. angles). A particular measurement is the result of such a process, normally expressed as the multiple