STATIC CHARACTERISTICS
The performance characteristics of an instrument are mainly divided into two categories:
1) Static characteristics
2) Dynamic characteristics
Static characteristics:
The set of criteria defined for the instruments, which are used to measure the quantities which are
slowly varying with time or mostly constant, i.e., do not vary with time, is called ‘static characteristics’.
The various static characteristics are:
i) Accuracy
ii) Precision
iii) Sensitivity
iv) Linearity
v) Reproducibility
vi) Repeatability
vii) Resolution
viii) Threshold
ix) Drift
x) Stability
xi) Tolerance
xii) Range or span
Accuracy:
It is the degree of closeness with which the reading approaches the true value of the quantity
to be measured. The accuracy can be expressed in following ways:
a) Point accuracy:
Such accuracy is specified at only one particular point of scale. It does not give any
information about the accuracy at any other point on the scale.
b) Accuracy as percentage of scale span:
When an instrument as uniform scale, its accuracy may be expressed in terms of scale
range.
c) Accuracy as percentage of true value:
The best way to conceive the idea of accuracy is to specify it in terms of the true value of
the quantity being measured.
Precision:
It is the measure of reproducibility i.e., given a fixed value of a quantity, precision is a
measure of the degree of agreement within a group of measurements. The precision is
composed of two characteristics:
a) Conformity:
Consider a resistor having true value as 2385692, which is being measured by an
ohmmeter. But the reader can read consistently, a value as 2.4 Due to the
nonavailability of proper scale. The error created due to the limitation of the
scale reading is a precision error.
b) Number of significant figures:
The precision of the measurement is obtained from the number of significant
figures, in which the reading is expressed. The significant figures convey the
actual information about the magnitude & the measurement precision of the
quantity.
The precision can be mathematically expressed as: P=1-
Xn-Xn
Xn
Where, P = precision
Xn = Value of nth measurement
Xn = Average value the set of measurement values
Sensitivity:
The sensitivity denotes the smallest change in the measured variable to which the instrument
responds. It is defined as the ratio of the changes in the output ofan instrument to a change in the value
of the quantity to be measured.
Mathematically it is expressed as,
=qo/qi
Thus, if the calibration curve is liner, as shown, the sensitivity of the instrument is the slope
of the calibration curve. If the calibration curve is not linear as shown, then the sensitivity
varies with the input.
Fig1.2Sensitivity Curve
Inverse sensitivity or deflection factor is defined as the reciprocal of sensitivity.
Inverse sensitivity or deflection factor = 1/ sensitivity =qi/qo
Linearity
The linearity is defined as the ability to reproduce the input characteristics symmetrically & linearly.
The curve shows the actual calibration curve & idealized straight line.
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Idealized Straight line
Output
Actual maximum deviation Curve
Input
Fig 1.3 Actual calibration curve & idealized straight line Max.
% non-linearity= Deviation of output from idealized
Straight line Full scale reading
Reproducibility:
It is the degree of closeness with which a given value may be repeatedly measured. It is specified
in terms of scale readings over a given period of time.
Repeatability:
Fig1.5Drift Curve
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Drift:
Drift may be classified into three categories:
a) Zero drift:
If the whole calibration gradually shifts due to slippage, permanent set, or
due to undue warming up of electronic tube circuits, zero drift sets in.
b) Span drift or sensitivity drift
If there is proportional change in the indication all along the upward scale, the
drifts is called span drift or sensitivity drift.
c) Zonal drift:
In case the drift occurs only a portion of span of an instrument, it is called zonal
drift.
Resolution:
If the input is slowly increased from some arbitrary input value, it will again be found that
output does not change at all until a certain increment is exceeded.
This increment is called resolution.
Threshold:
If the instrument input is increased very gradually from zero there will be some
minimum value below which no output change can be detected. This minimum value
defines the threshold of the instrument.
Stability:
It is the ability of an instrument to retain its performance throughout is specified operating
life.
Tolerance:
The maximum allowable error in the measurement is specified in terms of some value
which is called tolerance.
Rangeorspan:
The minimum & maximum value of a quantity for which an instrument is designed
to measure is called its range or span.
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