BINDURA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION FACULTY OF SCIENCES. DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENTS Examination Paper Time Allowed: 3 hours Total Marks: 100 Special Requirements: Calculator INSTRUCTIONS 1. Answer all questions. lation, 2. Show your steps clearly in any caleut 4. Start the answers for each question on a fresh page. MARK ALLOCATION QUESTION 1 b—__________| poops eee 4. a EL 5. A ~[20; TOTAL or 100Question 1 1. (a) Define and explain Precision [2] ‘Accuracy QI Resolution (2) Threshold [2] (b) The expected value of the voltage across a resistor is 80V. However, the measurement gives a value of 79V. Calculate i. Absolute error (2) Percentage error (2) Relative accuracy [2] Percentage of accuracy Ql {e) compare and contrast a multimeter and an oscilloscope as methods of measuring voltage. 13] {d) What is the use of a potentiometer? a) Question 2 2. (a) Analogue instruments usually have problems of zero error. Describe what you understand by the term zero error and how it can be eliminated 4] (b) What is the difference between dynamic and static characteristics of ‘measurement instruments? [al (c) Give an example of a non-contact temperature sensor re] (d)_ What does the following mean when used in thermistors i NTC 2 PTC [2] {e) What is a resistance temperature detector (RTD). How does it work? [a] (f) With the help of a diagram and your knowledge of electrical measurements, describe what you understand by the term “dead space” BlQuestion 3 3, (a) A pressure gauge with a measurement range of 0-10 bar has a quoted inaccuracy of £1.0% f.s. (1% of full-scale reading). What is the maximum measurement error expected for this instrument? [2] What is the likely measurement error expressed as a percentage of the output reading if this pressure gauge is measuring a pressure of 1 bar? [3] (b) What is the difference between dynamic and static characteristics of ‘measurement instruments? i] (©) Optical sensors can be grouped into light sources and light detectors. Give one example of a light source and one example of a light detector. Describe how each of the examples work. ta] (d) The formula below is used to calculate the resistance of a length of wire. 1 R=p5 where Ris the total resistance, | the length, A is the cross-sectional area, and pis the specific resistance or resistivity of the conductor. Using the same equation above, state whether the following statements are True or False The resistance of a wire conductor is directly proportional to its length and inversely proportional to its cross sectional area. ta) The longer a wire, the higher its resistance. (al More work must be done to make electron drift from one end of a wire conductor to the other. (a) The greater the diameter of the wire, the less the resistance, since there are more free electrons in the cross sectional area (a (e) Give one example of a microcontroller tl (f} Give two examples of temperature sensors (2)Question 4 4 (a) In relation to an operational amplifier briefly describe the following: i, Common-Mode Rejection Ratio ii, _ Instrumentation amplifiers {b) Diagram below shows an op-amp as a summer Derive an expression for the output voltage (c) Give any 4 characteristics of an ideal op-amp (4) (d) Draw diagrams to represent an operational amplifier operating in the following modes: (i) Voltage follower 2 ) Summer RI Instrumentation amplifier 2) Question 5 5 (a) With the aid of diagrams give the two voltmeter-ammeter arrangements used for measuring resistance. State the appropriate use for each arrangement. (4) (b) What is a strain gauge [2] {c) Give any three encoders you know 2] {d) The diagram below shows the Anaolog to Digital conversion and Digital to Analog conversion processes. Using the diagram briefly describe each stage. (22 S/H F> ADC ) DAC