GATE Syllabus

Resistive-, capacitive-, inductive-, piezoelectric-, Hall effect sensors and associated signal
conditioning circuits; transducers for industrial instrumentation: displacement (linear and
angular), velocity, acceleration, force, torque, vibration, shock, pressure (including low
pressure), flow (variable head, variable area, electromagnetic, ultrasonic, turbine and open
channel flow meters) temperature (thermocouple, bolometer, RTD (3/4 wire), thermistor,
pyrometer and semiconductor); liquid level, pH, conductivity and viscosity measurement.
4-20 mA two-wire transmitter.

Table of Contents
Sr. Chapter Pages

1. Resistive, Inductive & Capacitive Transducers ………..…. 1

2. Piezoelectric Transducer………….……..……………………….…. 11

3. Temperature Measurement …………….….…………..…....…. 15

4. Flow Measurement ……………………..……..…..…….…..…..…. 22

5. Pressure Measurement ……………..……..…………..…..…..…. 27

6. Miscellaneous …………………………..……..…………..…..…..…. 30

7. Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) ….…..…………..…..…..…. 33

Chapter 1

Resistive, Inductive & Capacitive Transducers

Objective & Numerical Ans Type Questions : [GATE 2001, IIT Kanpur]
(A) 2 (B) 3.5
Q.1 A unity ratio quarter bridge strain measuring
(C) 10 (D) 100
circuit produces an output of 1 mV for a
Q.4 An n-type semiconductor strain gauge has a
strain of 500 microstrain when the bridge
excitation is 4 V. The gauge factor of the nominal resistance of 1000  and gauge
element is then factor of 100 . The resistance of the gauge,
[GATE 1994, IIT Kharagpur] [1 M] when a compressive strain of 100 μm/m is
(A) 1 (B) 2 applied, is[GATE 2003, IIT Madras] [1 M]
(C) 3 (D) 4 (A) 900  (B) 990 
Q.2 A resistance of a resistive transducer is (C) 1010  (D) 1100 
modeled as RT  R(1 kx) , where k is the
Q.5 A strain gauge of resistance 120  and
constant of transformation and x is the
gauge factor 2.0 is at zero strain condition.
input quantity being sensed. The resistor is
A 200 k fixed resistance is connected in
connected to an ideal op-amp signal
parallel with it. Then the combination will
conditioning circuit shown in figure. The
represent an equivalent strain of [2 M]
value R is 100 , k is 0.004 and x is 75,
[GATE 2004, IIT Delhi]
the output V0 is [GATE 2003, IIT Madras]
(A)  290 μm/m (B) Zero
[2 M]
(C) 123.8 μm/m (D)  300 μm/m
R1 = 100  RT
Common Data for
– Question 6 & 7
+
A bonded metal strain gauge has the following
4V + R2 = 12 k R2 specifications :
–
= 12 k Gauge factor = 2.0
Unstrained resistance  120  at 00 C

(A) – 400 mV (B) – 4 mV Maximum operating temperature  1500 C

(C) – 300 mV (D) + 600 mV Temperature coefficient of resistance
Q.3 A strain gauge is attached to a bar of length  (2 105 )0 C1
20 cm which is subjected to a tensile force. Maximum tensile and compressive strain
The nominal resistance of strain gauge is  2102
100 . The changes in resistance and Q.6 The temperature induced resistance error at
elongation in the bar measured are 0.35  the maximum operating temperature
and 0.2 mm, respectively. The gauge factor expressed as the percentage of resistance
of the strain gauge is [1 M] change due to maximum tensile strain only,
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 2 GATE ACADEMY®
assuming self-heating effects to be Q.10 The two secondary coils of an LVDT have
negligible, is [GATE 2005, IIT Bombay] been wrongly connected as shown in figure.
[2 M] Then the input-output relationship would be
(A) 0.0625 (B) 0.625 [GATE 2010, IIT Delhi]
(C) 6.26 (D) 7.5
Q.7 Two strain gauges, with the specifications
given above are mounted on a structural
AC
member in a push-pull configuration, meter
connected in a bridge along with two
standard resistances, whose output is fed to x
an amplifier as shown in the figure. The
output voltage V0 per unit battery voltage,
under maximum loading, is [2 M] (A) 
[GATE 2005, IIT Bombay]
10R x
0
R R – R
R
–
V V0 (B) 
+
R R + R
x
0
(A) – 0.4 V (B) – 0.37 V

(C) 0.37 V (D) 0.4 V (C)
Q.8 A 1000  strain gage (Rg ) has a gage
x
factor of 2.5. It is connected in the bridge as 0
shown in figure. The strain gage is subjected 
with a positive strain of 400 m/m. The (D)
output V0 (in mV) of the bridge is (up to two x
decimal places) . 0
[GATE 2008, IISc Bangalore]
Q.11 The output of the LVDT with input
mechanical motion of 10 Hz and excitation
1000  1000  frequency 400 Hz will contain frequencies
[GATE 1994, IIT Kharagpur] [1 M]
 V0
2V  (A) 10 Hz and 400 Hz
Rx 1000  (B) 400 Hz only
(C) 10 Hz only

Q.9 A p-type semiconductor strain gauge has a (D) 390 Hz and 410 Hz
nominal resistance of 1000  and a gauge Q.12 The excitation frequency of an LVDT is 2
kHz. The maximum frequency of
factor of  200 at 250 C . The resistance of
displacement should be limited to [1 M]
the strain gauge in ohms when subjected to a
[GATE 2004, IIT Delhi]
strain of 10 4 m/m at the same
(A) 200 Hz (B) 1.5 kHz
temperature is  .
[GATE 2015, IIT Kanpur] (C) 2 kHz (D) 2.5 kHz
GATE ACADEMY® 3 Resistive, Inductive & Capacitive Transducers
Q.13 The secondary induced voltages of a LVDT, C C
(A) E (B) E
shown in the following figure, at null C C
position are V 1 1.0 00 V , V 2 1.0 100 V C  C C  C
(C) E (D) E
respectively. Then the null voltage of the C  C C  C
LVDT is [GATE 2006, IIT Kharagpur]
Q.17 A variable capacitance angular velocity
[1 M]
pickup is made with two concentrically
+ mounted parallel semi-circular plates with a
V1 small separation between them as shown in
– figure. A dc voltage is connected across the
+ terminals of the capacitance sensor as
V2 shown. For a constant angular velocity ,
– then waveform of the current i(t) will be
(A) 0 V (B) 0.014 V [GATE 2004, IIT Delhi] [2 M]
Moving plate
(C) 0.174 V (D) 2 V i(t)
Q.14 An LVDT is supplied with a sinusoidal
voltage of amplitude 5 V and frequency 1 E 
kHz. The output is connected to an ac
voltmeter. The reading of the voltmeter is 1
Fixed plate
V for a displacement of 1 mm from the null
position. When the displacement is 1 mm in (A) dc (B) sinusoidal
the opposite direction from the null position, (C) triangular (D) square
the reading of the voltmeter is [1 M] Q.18 Three parallel-plate air capacitors of equal
[GATE 2009, IIT Roorkee] plate area A are formed, as shown in figure
(A) – 1 V (B) – 0.2 V (a), for measuring zero mean vibrational
(C) 1 V (D) 5 V displacement. The capacitors have three
Q.15 The expression for the capacitance (C in pF) separate fixed plates and one common
of a parallel plate capacitor is given by moving plate, which are connected as shown
C  6.94 103 (d 2 / S ) . The diameter (d) of in figure (b). When the displacement, x is
each plate is 20 mm and the spacing zero, the distance separating the fixed plates
between the plates (S) is 0.25 mm. The from the common moving plate is the same,
displacement sensitivity of the capacitor is
equal to d . The circuit is excited by a
approximately [2 M]
sinusoidal voltage Vi sin t . Neglecting
[GATE 2002, IISc Bangalore]
(A) 44.4 pF/mm (B) – 44.4 pF/mm fringe effects and the possibility of
saturation of the op-amp output, the output
(C) 11.1 pF/mm (D) – 11.1 pF/mm
voltage V0 normalized by Vi for a
Q.16 A single conditioning circuit suitable for a
push pull type capacitive transducer is given displacement x is
in figure. The output V0 is [2 M] [GATE 2005, IIT Bombay] [2 M]
[GATE 2003, IIT Madras] Fixed Fixed
C1 C3
E C + C x
Moving C2
d
V0 Fixed
E
C – C Fig. (a)
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 4 GATE ACADEMY®
C1 Amp, the output voltage under the
conditions mentioned above is
C2
[GATE 2006, IIT Kharagpur] [2 M]
C3 1 20 pF
Vp = 1V
– C1
100 kHz
2
+ V0 –
Vi V0
Vp = 1V C2 +
100 kHz
3

Fig. (b)
1 x 1 x
(A)  (B)  (A) 0.012 V (B) 0.354 V
2
d 2 2d
2x 1 (C) 1.23 V (D) 2.541 V
(C)  2  x2 (D)
Q.21 A differential push-pull type capacitive
d 2
displacement sensor (nominal capacitance
Statement for Linked Answer C0  0.01 F ) is connected in two adjacent
Questions 19 & 20 arms of an AC bridge in such a way that the
A capacitive type displacement transducer consists output voltage of the bridge is independent
of two triangular plates, placed side by side, with of the frequency of the supply voltage.
negligible gap in between them and rectangular Supply to the bridge is 1 V at 1 kHz and two
plate moving laterally with an uniform air gap of 1 equal resistances ( R  3.9 k ) are placed in
mm between the fixed plate and the moving plate. the other two arms of the bridge. The bridge
The schematic diagram is shown below with sensitivity is
appropriate dimension. [GATE 2011, IIT Madras] [2 M]
1 2 3
(A) 0.001 mV/pF (B) 0.05 mV/pF
C1 C2
(C) 0.1 mV/pF (D) 0.5 mV/pF
Q.22 A metallic strain gauge of resistance Rx with
10 cm a gauge factor of 2 is bonded to a structure
made of a metal with modulus of elasticity
of 200 GN/m2 . The value of Rx is 1 kΩ
10 cm 4 cm 6 cm when no stress is applied. Rx is a part of a
Q.19 With the position of the moving plate shown quarter bridge with three identical fixed
in the figure above, the values of the resistors of 1 kΩ each. The bridge is excited
capacitances C1 and C2 thus formed are, from a DC voltage of 4 V. The structure is
[GATE 2006, IIT Kharagpur] [2 M] subjected to a stress of 100 MN/m2.
(A) C1  2.14 pF, C2  1.29 pF Magnitude of the output of the bridge (in
(B) C1  14.17 pF, C2  21.25 pF mV, rounded off to two decimal places) is
. [GATE 2020, IIT Delhi]
(C) C1  339 pF, C2  212 pF
Q.23 The mutual inductances between the
(D) C1  18.16 nF, C2  23.2 nF
primary coil and the secondary coils of a
Q.20 The above sensor is incorporated in a linear variable differential transformer
capacitance measuring circuit as shown in (LVDT) shown in the figure are M1 and
the following figure. Assuming ideal Op-
M2 . Assume that the self-inductances LS1
GATE ACADEMY® 5 Resistive, Inductive & Capacitive Transducers
and LS 2 remain constant and are 10 V

independent of x. When x  0, R  R R  R
M1  M 2  M 0 . When x is in the range 

10 mm, M1 and M 2 change linearly with 
R  R R  R Instrumentation
x. At x  10 mm or –10 mm, the change in amplifier
the magnitudes of M1 and M 2 is 0.25 M 0.
(A) –20 (B) 0
For a particular displacement x  D, the
(C) 3 (D) 100
voltage across the detector becomes zero
Q.26 Four identical resistive strain gauges with
when V2  1.25 V1 . The value of D (in mm, gauge factor of 2.0 are used in a Wheatstone
rounded off to one decimal place) is bridge as shown in the figure below. Only
[GATE 2020, IIT Delhi] one of the strain gauges RSENSE changes its
resistance due to strain. If the output voltage
Core LS 1 V1  VS1 00
VOUT is measured to be 1 mV, the magnitude
of strain in units of microstrain, is
Detector LP [GATE 2019, IIT Madras]
LS 2 V2  V S 21800

R R
x
0
2V
Q.24 A 1000  strain gage (Rg ) has a gage VOUT
factor of 2.5. It is connected in the bridge as R
shown in figure. The strain gage is subjected Rsense
with a positive strain of 400 m/m. The
output V0 (in mV) of the bridge is (up to (A) 1 (B) 10
two decimal places) . (C) 100 (D) 1000
[GATE 2018, IIT Guwahati] Q.27 A differential capacitive sensor with a
distance between the extreme plates 100 mm
is shown in figure below. The differential
1000  1000  voltage V  V1 V2 , where V1 and V2 are
the rms values, for a download displacement
 V0
2V  of 10 mm of the intermediate plate from the
Rx 1000  central position, in volts, is
[GATE 2019, IIT Madras]

Q.25 Four strain gauges in a Wheatstone bridge V1

C1
configuration are connected to an 100 mm Vrms  10 V
z
instrumentation amplifier as shown in the
C2 V2
figure. From the choices given below, the
preferred value for the common mode
rejection ratio (CMRR) of the amplifier in (A) 0.9 (B) 1.0
dB, would be [GATE 2019, IIT Madras] (C) 1.1 (D) 2
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 6 GATE ACADEMY®
Q.28 The capacitance Cx of a capacitive type (A) 31.25 V (B) 30.25 V
sensor is (1000 x) pF, where x is the input to (C) 32.25 V (D) 32.50 V
the sensor. As shown in the figure, the Practice (objective & Num Ans) Questions :
sensor is excited by a voltage Q.1 A semi-conductor strain gauge [1 M]
10 sin (100 t) V. The other terminal of the (A) has a much higher gauge factor than that
sensor is tied to the input of a high input of a metal wire gauge.
impedance amplifier through a shielded (B) employs piezoelectric property of
cable, with shield connected to ground. The undoped silicon.
cable capacitance is 100 pF. The peak of the (C) does not require temperature
voltage VA at the input of the amplifier compensation.
when x  0.1 (in volts) is (D) exhibits very little gauge factor variation
[GATE 2020, IIT Delhi] as compared to that of metal wire
Cx gauges.
Amplifier (high
VA input impedance) Q.2 A strain gauge has a gauge factor
Shielded cable G.F.  100 . The type of the strain gauge is
10 sin (100 t) (A) unbounded metal type [1 M]
volts
(B) bonded metal foil type
(C) p-type semiconductor
Q.29 An ideal or unloaded potentiometer used as (D) n-type semiconductor
a displacement transducer has a stroke of Q.3 All metal resistive strain gauges have a
100mm and its resistance over this length is gauge factor (G.F.) nearly 2.5 because [1 M]
1000 . Make calculation for the power (A) Young’s modulus is the same for all
dissipated by the coil. It may be presumed metals and alloys.
that the transducer has an overall sensitivity (B) Poisson’s ratio is the same for all metals
of 0.1V/mm. and alloys.
Q.30 A 2 W, 1 k linear potentiometer is (C) The conductivity of the material changes
connected to a circuit. The value of with applied strain in the elastic region.
maximum allowable supply voltage for not (D) The conductivity of the material is
to exceed the power rating is independent of the applied strain.
(A) 44.5 V (B) 260.93 V Q.4 Among the bonded metal strain gauges, the
(C) 2 V (D) non of the above foil type is more popular than the wire type
Q.31 For the circular potentiometer circuit show because, [1 M]
(A) error due to transverse strain is much
figure total resistance is 100 k and if the
less in foil type.
jockey travels through 45and maximum
(B) gauge factor is much higher in foil type.
jockey travel is 350, then the magnitude of
(C) the foil type is much more insensitive to
output voltage of the op-amp circuit is
temperature variation.

(D) none of the above.
Q.5 A metal wire has a uniform cross section A,
length l and resistance R between its two end
5V – points. It is uniformly stretched so that its
2 k Vo length becomes l . The new resistance is,
+
[1 M]
GATE ACADEMY® 7 Resistive, Inductive & Capacitive Transducers

(A) R (B) 2 R A correct way to place these gauge in the

bridge is [2 M]
(C) R (D) e0R
(A) P-1, Q-2, R-3, S-4 (B)P-1, Q-3, R-2, S-4
Q.6 The figure below shows various
(C) P-3, Q-1, R-2, S-4 (D)P-2, Q-1, R-3, S-4
configurations of bonding a strain gauge to a
Q.9 The output voltage of transducer with an
cantilever subjected to a bending force F.
output resistance of 10 k is connected to
an amplifier. The minimum input resistance
of the amplifier so that the error in recording
the transducer output does not exceed 2% is
Strain gauge [1 M]
(A) 10 k (B) 49 k
F
(C) 490 k (D) 1.2 k
Q.10 Poisson’s ratio for a metal is 0.35 neglecting
Cantilever piezo-resistance effect, the gauge factor of a
strain gauge made of this metal is [1 M]
(A) 0.65 (B) 1
(C) 1.35 (D) 1.70
F F F
Q.11 A strain gauge is attached on a cantilever
(P) (Q) (R) beam as shown. If the base of the cantilever
Which configuration gives the maximum vibrates according to the equation
changes in resistance for this force? [1 M] x(t)  sin 1t  sin 2t , where 2 rad/s  1 ,
(A) P (B) Q 2  3 rad/s, then the output of the strain
(C) R gauge is proportional to [1 M]
x y
(D) All have equal change in resistance.
Q.7 A strain gauge has a nominal resistance of
Base

600  and a gauge factor of 2.5. The strain

gauge is connected in a dc bridge with three Strain Mass = 0.001 kg
other resistances of 600  each. The bridge gauge

is excited by a 4 V battery. If the strain dx

(A) x (B)
gauge is subjected to a strain of 100 m/m , dt
the magnitude of the bridge output will be
2
d x d (x  y)
(C) (D)
[1 M] dt 2 dt
(A) 0 V (B) 250 V Statement for Linked Answer
(C) 500 V (D) 750 V Questions 12 & 13
Q.8 Four strain gauges are fixed on a cylindrical A differential amplifier with signal terminals
shaft to measure torque, as shown in the X ,Y , Z is connected as shown in figure (a) below
figure, for CMRR measurement where the differential
P Q amplifier has an additional constant offset voltage
2 1 in the output. The observations obtained are : when
V0
3 4 Vi  2 V , V0  3 mV and when Vi  3 V,
R
S V0  4 mV .
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 8 GATE ACADEMY®
R2 Q.15 The torque transmitted by a cylindrical shaft
is to be measured by using two strain
R1
X  gauges. The angles for mounting the strain
Z gauges relative to the axis of the shaft for
Y 
R3 V maximum sensitivity are [1 M]
0

Vi  R4 (A)  450 (B)  600
(C)  900 (D) 1800
Fig. (a) Q.16 In the strain gauge bridge circuit given
+ 5V below, R  R  R(1  x) and
1 3

R2  R4  R(1  x) where R is 350 . The

R R
X voltage sources Vs and Vn represent the dc
Differential
Amplifier Z excitation and the undesired
Strain Y noise/interference, respectively. The value
Gauge R R of capacitor C in microfarad that is required
to ensure that the output across a and b is
Fig. (b) low-pass filtered with cutoff frequency 150
Q.12 Assuming its differential gain to be 10 and Hz is . [2 M]
the Op-amp to be otherwise ideal, the
CMRR is [2 M] R1 R2
3
Vn
(A) 10 2 (B) 10
a b
(C) 104 (D) 105 C
Vs R4 R3
Q.13 The differential amplifier is connected as
shown in figure (b) above to a single strain
gauge bridge. Let the strain gauge resistance
vary around its no-load resistance R by Q.17 The moving core in a linear variable
1% . Assume the input impedance of the differential transformer (LVDT) is made of
amplifier to be high compared to the material. [1 M]
equivalent source resistance of the bridge Q.18 Linear variable differential transformer has
and the common mode characteristic to be [1 M]
as obtained above. The output voltage in mV (A) two primary coils connected in phase
varies approximately from [2 M] and a secondary coil.
(B) two primary coils connected in
(A) + 128 to – 128 (B) + 128 to – 122
opposition and a secondary coil.
(C) + 122 to – 122 (D) + 99 to – 101 (C) one primary coil and two secondary coils
Q.14 Semiconductor strain gauges typically have connected in phase.
much higher gauge factors than those of (D) one primary coil and two secondary coils
metallic strain gauges, primarily due to connected in opposition.
[1 M] Q.19 A linear variable differential transformer
(A) higher temperature sensitivity (LVDT) is [1 M]
(A) a displacement transducer.
(B) higher Poisson’s ratio
(B) an impedance matching transformer.
(C) higher piezo resistive coefficient (C) a differential temperature sensor.
(D) higher magnetostrictive coefficient (D) an auto transformer.
GATE ACADEMY® 9 Resistive, Inductive & Capacitive Transducers
Q.20 The primary and secondary winding of an Note that the bridge supply and the analog reference
LVDT (stroke length  50 mm ) are input for the DC are derived from the same 10 V
connected to a 3 kHz sinusoidal source and DC source.
ideal semiconductor diode bridge based Q.23 The change in capacitance for full scale
phase sensitive demodulator circuit. The displacement is  5% for the capacitors.
core of the LVDT remains static at 15 mm The gain of the differential amplifier for
above the ideal null position. The frequency utilization of the full range of the ADC
of the voltage observed at the input of the (which is 10 V ) is [2 M]
low-pass filter is [1 M]
(A) 10 (B) 20
(A) 1 kHz (B) 1.5 kHz
(C) 3 kHz (D) 6 kHz (C) 30 (D) 40
Q.21 To avoid the effect of fringing, the potential Q.24 If the supply voltage to the bridge decreases
of the guard ring of a capacitance by 5%, the sensitivity of the measurement
transducer, shown in figure is to be made system [2 M]
equal to [1 M] (A) decreases by 5% (B) does not change
Moving plate (C) increases by 5%
Guard ring
(D) increases by 200%
Q.25 To reduce the effect of fringing in a
Fixed plate capacitive type transducer [1 M]
(A) the ground potential (A) the transducer is shielded and the shield
(B) half of the excitation voltage is kept at ground potential.
(C) the voltage of the fixed plate (B) guard ring is provided and it is kept at
(D) the voltage of the moving plate ground potential.
Q.22 A variable air gap type capacitor consists of
(C) the transducer is shielded and the shield
two parallel plates : a fixed plate and a
is kept at the same potential as the
moving plate at a distance x . If a potential
moving plate.
V is applied across the two plates, then
(D) guard ring is provided and it is kept at
force of attraction between the plates is
related to x. [1 M] the same potential as the moving plate.
1 Q.26 A capacitive motion transducer circuit is
(A) F  x2 (B) F 
x2 shown. The gap ‘d’ between the parallel
1 plates of the capacitor is varied as
(C) F  (D) F  x
x d (t)  103[1  0.1sin(1000t)] m . If the
value of the capacitance is 2 pF at t  0 ms,
Statement for Linked Answer
the output voltage V0 at t  2 ms is [2 M]
Questions 23 & 24
1 M
5 Volts DC
A push-pull capacitive displacement transducer is
interfaced to a differential amplifier and an ADC as d
–
shown in the figure below. Capacitive V0
Analog +
reference transducer
C + C Ideal differential
R input
amplifier
– Digital
10 V A/D
converter data
+

C – C R
Analog
input (A) mV (B)  mV
2
(C) 2 mV (D) 4 mV
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 10 GATE ACADEMY®

Answer Keys

Objective & Numerical Answer Type Questions

1. B 2. D 3. B 4. C 5. D
6. D 7. C 8. 0.5 9. 1020 10. A
11. D 12. A 13. C 14. C 15. B
16. B 17. A 18. B 19. B 20. B
21. B 22. 1 23. 4.45 24. 0.5 25. D
26. D 27. D 28. 5 29. 0.1 W 30. A
31. A
Practice (Objective & Numerical Answer) Questions
1. A 2. D 3. C 4. A 5. B
6. A 7. B 8. A 9. C 10. D
11. C 12. C 13. B 14. C 15. A
Ferro
16. 3.03 17. 18. D 19. A 20. D
Magnetic
21. A 22. B 23. D 24. B 25. B
26. B
Chapter 2

Piezoelectric Transducer

Objective & Numerical Ans Type Questions : (A) 0.141 mV (B) 0.232 mV
Q.1 A piezoelectric type 50 MPa full-scale (C) 1.141 mV (D) 1.732 mV
pressure sensor with built-in electronics has Q.4 A dynamometer arm makes contact with the
a sensitivity of 100 mV per MPa. If this piezoelectric load cell as shown. The g-
sensor is subjected to a static pressure of 10 constant of the piezoelectric material is
MPa, then its output will be 15103 Vm/N and the surface area of the
[GATE 2002, IISc Bangalore] [1 M]
(A) 0 mV (B) 100 mV load cell is 4 cm2 . If a torque  20 Nm is
applied to the dynamometer, the output
1000
(C) mV (D) 1000 mV voltage V0 of the load cell is
2
Q.2 A quartz crystal (Young’s modulus, [GATE 2012, IIT Delhi] [2 M]
Y  9 1010 N/m2 ) with piezo-electric 0.5 m

properties has a diameter of 10 mm and

thickness of 2 mm. Its voltage sensitivity 2
Area A = 4 cm
constant is 4500 V/μm . If the voltage
V0
output is 127.3 V, then the applied load is Torque  t = 1 mm Load cell
approximately 

[GATE 2002, IISc Bangalore] [1 M]  Fig. Dynamometer
(A) 100 N (B) 200 N 
(C) 127.3 N (D) 6.4 N (A) 4 V (B) 5 V
Q.3 A piezoelectric transducer with a sensitivity (C) 10 V (D) 16 V
of 2.0 pC/N having a capacitance of 1600 pF Q.5 A barium titanate piezoelectric crystal with
and a leakage resistance of 1012  is d33  150 pC/N , Ccrystal  25 pF and
connected to a charge amplifier as shown in
Rcrystal  1010  is used to measure the
figure. If a force of 0.1sin10t N is applied to
the transducer, the output amplitude of the amplitude of a step force. The voltage output
charge amplifier is is measured using a digital voltmeter with
[GATE 2003, IIT Madras] [2 M] input impedance 1013  connected across
10 
8
the crystal. All other capacitances and
resistances may be neglected. A step force
1nF
of 2 N is applied from direction “3” on the
crystal. The time in milliseconds within
– which the voltmeter should sample the
Output crystal output voltage so that the drop from
+
the peak value is no more than 0.12 V is
.[GATE 2014, IIT Kharagpur] [2 M]
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 12 GATE ACADEMY®
Q.6 A piezoelectric pressure sensor has a (A) 500 Hz (B) 1000 Hz
bandpass characteristic with cut-off (C) 2000 Hz (D) 4000 Hz
frequencies of 0.1 Hz and 1 MHz and a Q.2 For signal conditioning of piezoelectric type
sensitivity of 100 mV/kPa. The sensor is transducer we require [1 M]
subjected to a static constant pressure of 100 (A) a charge amplifier.
kPa. Its steady-state output will be
(B) a differential amplifier.
[GATE 2018, IIT Guwahati] [1 M]
(C) an instrumentation amplifier.
(A) 0 V (B) 0.1 V
(D) a transconductance amplifier.
(C) 1 V (D) 10 V
Q.3 A piezoelectric type accelerometer has a
Q.7 The circuit shown uses ideal Op-Amp sensitivity of 100 mV/g. The transducer is
powered from a supply VCC  5 V. If the subjected to a constant acceleration of 5g.
charge qp generated by the piezoelectric The steady state output of the transducer
sensor is the of form will be [1 M]
qp  0.1sin (10000t) μC, the peak detector (A) 0 V (B) 100 mV
(C) 0.5 V (D) 5 V
output after 10 cycles of qp (in volts,
rounded off to one decimal place) is Common Data for
[GATE 2020, IIT Delhi] Question 4 & 5
100 nF
A piezo-electric force sensor, connected by a cable
VCC  5V PD
 to a voltage amplifier, has the following parameters

crystal properties : stiffness 109 N/m, damping ratio
qp 10 pF 100 pF

(1/2) VCC  2.5 V

0.01, natural frequency 105 rad/s,
Q.8 A piezoelectric transducer with sensitivity of force-to-charge sensitivity 109 C/N , capacitance
30 mV / kPa is intended to be used in the 109 F with its loss angle assumed negligible.
range of 0 kPa to 100 kPa. The readout
Cable properties :
circuit has a peak noise amplitude of 0.3 mV
and measured signals over the full pressure Capacitance 2 10 9 F with its resistance assumed
range are encoded with 10 bits. The smallest negligible.
pressure that produces a non-zero output, in Amplifier properties :
units of Pa, is approximately Input impedance 1 M , bandwidth 1 MHz, Gain 3.
[GATE 2019, IIT Madras] Q.4 The maximum frequency of a force signal in
(A) 10 (B) 100 Hz below the natural frequency within its
(C) 240 (D) 300 useful mid band range of measurement, for
Practice (objective & Num Ans) Questions : which the gain amplitude is less than 1.05,
approximately is [2 M]
Q.1 A piezoelectric transducer is directly (A) 35 (B) 350
connected through a cable to an electronic
(C) 3500 (D) 16 103
voltmeter. The minimum operating
frequency of measurement is 1000 Hz. If the Q.5 The minimum frequency of a force signal in
connecting cable length is doubled, the new Hz within its useful mid-band range of
minimum operating frequency is [1 M] measurement, for which the gain amplitude
is more than 0.95, approximately is [2 M]
GATE ACADEMY® 13 Piezoelectric Transducer
(A) 16 (B) 160 Q.10 In a seismic acceleration sensor, with a
(C) 1600 (D) 16 103 displacement transducer as the secondary
element, decreasing the mass while
Q.6 In a seismic pick-up, for getting an output
maintaining all other parameters of the
proportional to acceleration, it is desirable to
sensor unchanged will [1 M]
have [1 M]
(A) reduce both natural frequency and steady
(A) a natural frequency very small in
state sensitivity.
comparing in frequency of input and a
damping ratio around 0.7. (B) increase both natural frequency and
steady state sensitivity.
(B) a natural frequency very large in
comparison to frequency of input and a (C) increase natural frequency but reduce
damping ratio around 0.7. steady state sensitivity.
(C) a natural frequency equal to the (D) increase natural frequency without
frequency of input signal and a damping affecting steady state sensitivity.
ratio around 0.7. Q.11 An accelerometer has a seismic mass of 100
(D) a natural frequency very small in microgram and natural frequency of 1 kHz.
comparison to frequency of input and a With g the acceleration due to gravity, the
damping ratio higher than unity. static sensitivity of the accelerometer in
(nm/g) is [1 M]
Q.7 The natural frequency of a seismic mass
type pickup is fn . The pick-up will give the (A) 2.58 nm/g (B) 9.81 nm/g
correct motion information, if the exciting (C) 7.28102 nm/g (D) 6.28 nm/g
frequency fe is [1 M] Q.12 The seismic mass of an accelerometer
oscillates sinusoidally at 100 Hz with a
1
(A) fn (B) fn maximum displacement of 10 mm from its
2
maximum position. The peak acceleration of
(C)  fn (D)  fn the seismic mass is [1 M]
Q.8 A seismic vibration sensor having natural (A) 3947.84 m/s2 (B) 3141.50 m/s2
frequency n and damping ratio  , used for (C) 314.15 m/s2 (D) 100.00 m/s2
measuring amplitude of vibration with
Q.13 A piezoelectric type pressure sensor has a
frequency , should have [1 M]
sensitivity of 1 mV/kPa and a bandwidth of
(A) n   and  much grater than 1. 200 Hz to 300 kHz. For a constant (dc)
(B) n   and  slightly less than 1. pressure of 100 kPa, the steady state output
of the sensor in millivolt is . [1 M]
(C) n   and  slightly less than 1.
(D) n   and  slightly less than 1.
Q.9 A seismic type of transducer has a damping
constant of 10. The transducer is designed to
measure [1 M]
(A) acceleration (B) velocity
(C) displacement (D) force
 Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 14 GATE ACADEMY®

Answer Keys

Objective & Numerical Answer Type Questions

1. A 2. A 3. A 4. B 5. 2.512
6. A 7. 3.5 8. B
Practice (Objective & Numerical Answer) Questions
1. A 2. A 3. A 4. C 5. B
6. B 7. D 8. C 9. A 10. A
11. A 12. A 13. 0

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Chapter 3

Temperature Measurement

Objective & Numerical Ans Type Questions : (A) 2  (B) 2.8 

Q.1 The emf temperature data for a (C) 3.0  (D) 3.4 


thermocouple with reference junction at Common Data for

00 C is as follows : Questions 4 & 5
Temperature ( 0 C ) 20 180 200 
The table provides the thermo-emf sensitivity of the
Emf (mV) 1.2 11.8 13.5
materials with reference to platinum around 273 K.
The emf developed in mV with the two Material Sensitivity (VK1)
junctions at 2000 C is Constantan – 35
[GATE 1999, IIT Bombay] [1 M] Nickel – 25
(A) 11.8 (B) 12.3 Copper +6
(C) 13.0 (D) 13.5 Iron + 18.5
Q.2 A thermocouple is suddenly immersed in a
Nichrome + 25
medium of high temperature. The
approximate time taken by the thermocouple Q.4 The thermocouple pair that gives the
to reach 98% of the steady state value is maximum sensitivity around 273 K is
[GATE 2002, IISc Bangalore] [1 M] [GATE 2003, IIT Madras] [2 M]
(A) equal to the time constant of the (A) Platinum-Constantan
thermocouple. (B) Nichrome-Constantan
(B) equal to twice the value of the time (C) Nickel-Constantan
constant of the thermocouple. (D) Copper-Nickel
(C) equal to four times the value of the time Q.5 Two copper-constantan thermocouples are
constant of the thermocouple. connected such that the two constantan
(D) independent of the time constant. wires are joined together. The two copper
Q.3 An RTD is assumed to be represented in the wires are connected to the input of a low
range 00 C to 1000 C by a linear model as noise chopper stabilized differential
amplifier having a gain of 1000. One of the
RT  R0 (1 0.004T ) where T is the
thermocouple junctions is immersed in a
temperature in 0
C. R0  100  with a flask containing ice and water in equal
variation of  2  . The true model of the proportion. The other thermocouple is at a
RTD is RT  R0 (1 0.004T 6 10  7 T 2 ) . temperature T . If the output of the amplifier
The worst-case error magnitude in the is 2.050 V, the temperature T is
resistance value that will be introduced, if [GATE 2003, IIT Madras] [2 M]
the linear model is used over a range of 0 to (A) 2050 C (B) 102.50 C
1000 C is [GATE 2003, IIT Madras] [2 M] (C) 51.250 C (D) 500 C
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 16 GATE ACADEMY®
Q.6 A temperature-measuring instrument is Q.10 A type J (iron-constantan) thermocouple has
modeled as a first order system with time a voltage sensitivity of 55 V/ 0C . A digital
constant of 5 sec. The sensor of the voltmeter (DVM) is used to measure the
instrument is placed inside an oil bath whose voltage under the condition shown in the
temperature has a sinusoidal variation with following figure. [2 M]
amplitude of 100 C and a period of 20 sec Iron
around an average temperature of 2000 C .
The sinusoidal component at the output of T1 T2
the instrument will have amplitude T3 T4

[GATE 2003, IIT Madras] [2 M] Constantan DVM Constantan

0 0 Given that T  3000 C , T  1000 C and
(A) 0 C (B) 5.37 C 1 2
0 0 T  T  200 C , the meter will indicate a
(C) 8.57 C (D) 10 C 3 4

Q.7 A thermocouple can be considered as a voltage of [GATE 2006, IIT Kharagpur]

single capacity system with a time constant (A) 11.0 mV (B) 15.4 mV
of 100 ms and unity gain. It is immersed in a (C) 16.5 mV (D) 17.6 mV
heat bath whose temperature is varying at Q.11 A thermometer with time constant  ,
10 C/s from 00 C . When the actual initially at the ambient temperature, is used
temperature of the heat bath is 700 C , the to measure the temperature of a liquid in a
reading of the thermocouple will be bath. The excess temperature of the
thermometer and the liquid over the ambient
[GATE 2004, IIT Delhi] [2 M]
are (t) and l (t) , respectively, where t
denotes the time. If   , where k is a
0
(A) 70.1 C (B) 710 C
l (t) kt
(C) 69.90 C (D) 690 C constant, the steady state error, defined as
Q.8 An iron-constantan thermocouple is to be lim[(t)   l (t)] is
t 
used to measure temperature between 0 and
[GATE 2007, IIT Kanpur] [2 M]
3000 C. With reference junction at 00 C , the
(A)  (B) 0
emf induced at 1000 C and 3000 C are
E100  5268 V , E300  16325 V . Then the (C)  k (D)  k
Q.12 A thermistor has a resistance of 10 k at
non-linearity at 1000 C as a percentage of
full scale is [GATE 2004, IIT Delhi] [2 M] 250 C and 1 k at 1000 C. The range of
operation is 00 C-1500C . The excitation
(A) + 3.23% (B) – 1.06%
voltage is 5 V and a series resistor of 1k is
(C) – 0.96% (D) + 3.23%
connected to the thermistor. The power
Q.9 A thermometer at room temperature 300 C is
dissipated in the thermistor at 1500 C is
dipped suddenly into a bath of boiling water
[GATE 2007, IIT Kanpur] [2 M]
of 1000 C. It takes 30 seconds to reach 1 k
0
96.5 C . The time required to reach a
temperature of 980 C is 5V Thermistor
[GATE 2005, IIT Bombay] [2 M]
(A) 32.5 sec (B) 34.6 sec (A) 4.0 mW (B) 4.7 mW
(C) 35.6 sec (D) 38.6 sec (C) 5.4 mW (D) 6.1 mW
GATE ACADEMY® 17 Temperature Measurement
Q.13 The characteristics of a thermometer Q.16 The hot junction of a bare thermocouple,
measuring ambient temperature is initially at room temperature (300C) , is
dTi
2  T  T  0 , where T and T are the suddenly dipped in molten metal at t  0 sec
i a i a
dt . The cold junction is kept at room
indicated and ambient temperatures, temperature. The thermocouple can be
respectively, both in 0 C and time is in modeled as a first –order instrument with a
seconds. The – 3 dB cut-off frequency in the time constant of 1.0 sec and a static
frequency response of the thermometer is sensitivity of 10 μV/0C . If the voltage,
[GATE 2011, IIT Madras] [2 M] measured across the thermocouple indicates
(A) 1/ 4Hz (B) 1/ 2 Hz 10.0 mV at t  1.0 sec, then the temperature
(C) 1 Hz (D) 2 Hz
of the molten metal in 0 C is .
Q.14 As shown in the figure, temperature  is [GATE 2017, IIT Roorkee] [2 M]
measured using a K type thermocouple. It Q.17 A resistance temperature detector (RTD) is
has a sensitivity of 40 V/0C. The gain (G) connected to a circuit, as shown in the
of the ideal instrumentation amplifier is 25. figure. Assume the Op-Amp to be ideal. If
If the output V0 is 96 mV, then the value of V0  2.0 V , then the value of x is .
 (in 0 C ) is . [GATE 2017, IIT Roorkee] [2 M]
R
[GATE 2018, IIT Guwahati] [2 M] + 12 V
Room
temperature R(1 x)
M
 

N  V0
INA R
G = 25 V0
0 N 
ref  0 C  – 12 V

M

Q.15 The junction semiconductor temperature Q.18 Thermocouples measure temperature based
sensor shown in the figure is used to on [GATE 2019, IIT Madras]
measure the temperature of hot air. The (A) Photoelectric effect
output voltage V0 is 2.1 V. The current (B) Seebeck effect
(C) Hall effect
output of the sensor is given by I  T A (D) Thermal expansion
where T is the temperature in K. Assuming
the Op-Amp to be ideal, the temperature of Practice (objective & Num Ans) Questions :
the hot air in 0 C is approximately . Q.1 The emf developed by a thermocouple
[GATE 2017, IIT Roorkee] [2 M] depends on [1 M]
+ 5V
(A) the length of wires and temperature
Temperature difference between the hot and cold
I sensor junction.
(B) materials used, diameter of wires used
V0 and temperature difference between the
hot and cold junction.
2 k (C) materials used, temperature of hot
2 k
1 k junction and temperature of cold
junction.
 Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 18 GATE ACADEMY®
(D) materials used, shape and size of an IC temperature sensor which can drive a
materials, resistance of the wires and current of (273  T )0 C into an appropriate
temperature difference between the hot load resistance. [1 M]
and cold junctions.
An iron-constantan theormocouple has its
Q.2 Match the type of the thermocouple with its measuring junction in a both whose
characteristics. [1 M] temperature can vary between 1000 C-
(a) Type E chromel constantan 2000 C . The reference junction is
(b) Type J Fe-Alumel maintained at ambient temperature. If the
(c) Type T Cu-constantan emf developed is to correspond to that with
(d) Type S Pt-PtRh the reference junction at 00 C , the maximum
error, expressed as a percentage of the emf
(e) Low cost developed, due to ambient temperature
variation in the range 00 C - 450 C is
(f) Good stability
(g) High precision (A) 8.182 (B) 22.5

(h) High output (C) 45 (D) 81.82

Q.3 Choose the thermocouple that can measure a Statement for Linked Answer
temperature in the range of 13000 C to Questions 6 & 7
14000 C. [1 M]
(A) Iron-constantan In the amplifier circuit shown in the figure, a
10 k resistance is connected in parallel to a
(B) Copper-constantan
negative temperature coefficient thermistor to
(C) Platinum-platinum rhodium
reduce nonlinearity in the range 298-323K. The
(D) Chromel-alumel thermistor specifications are R298  10 k , the
Q.4 The resistance temperature characteris-tics characteristic constant   4000 K
of a temperature transducer is shown in 
figure. The transducer is [1 M] R  R exp   1  1 
T 298   
  

R   T 298 
100 k


T RT
1 k
(A) Nickel RTD –
V0
(B) NTC thermistor +
1V
(C) Platinum RTD
(D) PTC thermistor
Q.5 The temperature emf characteristics of iron- – 1V 1V
constantan and copper-constantan junction, Q.6 The magnitude of the resistance change
with the reference junction at 00 C , are between the temperature 298 K and 323 K,
given by EIC  53T μV and ECC  43T μV , when the thermistor is used alone and when
over an appropriate temperature range, it is used in parallel combination with the
where T is in 0 C It is known that AD590 is resistance are [2 M]
GATE ACADEMY® 19 Temperature Measurement
(A) 6.5 k, 2.4 k (B) 5.7 k, 1.6 k (A) 130 C (B) 460 C
(C) 6.1 k, 2.0 k (D) 5.3 k, 1.2 k (C) 480 C (D) 500 C
Q.7 In the given figure the potentiometer is Q.10 The values of the material constant  for
adjusted so that the output voltage V0 is 0 at thermistors P and Q are 4000 K and 3000 K,
T  298 K . The voltage output at 323 K is respectively. The resistance of each
[2 M] thermistor at 298 K is 2 k . At 373 K the
(A) 500 mV (B) 400 mV ratio of the resistance of thermistor P to that
(C) 2.4 mV (D) 2.6 mV of thermistor Q will be closest to [2 M]
(A) 1.33 (B) 1.00
Q.8 The temperature being sensed by a negative
temperature coefficient (NTC) type (C) 0.75 (D) 0.50
thermistor is linearly increasing. Its Q.11 Thermocouple based temperature
resistance will [1 M] measurement system is shown in the
(A) linearly increase with temperature. adjoining figure. Relevant thermocouple
emf data (in mV) is given below. The cold
(B) exponentially increase with temperature.
junction is kept at 00 C . The temperature is
(C) linearly decrease with temperature.
300 C in the other parts of the system. The
(D) exponentially decrease with temperature.
emf V0 is measured to be 26.74 mV. The
Q.9 A pair of identical thermocouples is
employed for measuring the temperature of temperature of the hot liquid is [2 M]
a specimen as shown below. The Chromel Copper wire Copper wire
Hot
V0
characteristic of the thermocouple is liquid
Constantan Constantan Copper wire
tabulated below. The reference junction is at wire
20 C . The meter reads 48 V . The correct Emf of Emf of
temperature of the specimen is [2 M] Temperature chromel copper
constantan constantan
Specimen

V
meter 100 C 0.591 0.391
+
200 C 1.192 0.789
300 C 1.801 1.196
Reference junction
3700 C 26.549 19.027
Temperature ( 0C ) Output ( μV )
3800 C 27.345 19.638
0 35
10 45 (A) 370.00 C (B) 372.40 C
20 55 (C) 376.60 C (D) 380.00 C
30 65
Common Data for
40 75 Question 12 & 13
50 85
60 95 Consider a temperature measurement scheme
shown in the adjoining figure. It uses an RTD
70 105
whose resistance at 00 C is 100  and temperature
80 115
90 125 coefficient of resistance () is 0.00392 /0 C .
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 20 GATE ACADEMY®
+ 10 V measured across the resistance is 4 V, the
temperature of the furnace is [2 M]
10 k 10 k Ideal (A) 100 C0 0
(B) 125 C
Rg instrumentation
0
amplifier (C) 150 C (D) 2000 C
100 
Q.16 A thermistor has a resistance of 1 k at
+
RTD V0 temperature 298 K and 465  at
– temperature 316 K. The temperature
sensitivity in K 1 [i.e. (1 / R)(dR / dT ) ,
where R is the resistance at the temperature
Q.12 The differential gain instrumentation T (in K)], of this thermistor at 316 K is
amplifier to achieve a voltage sensitivity of . [2 M]
10 mV/0C at 00C should be approximately Q.17 A thermopile is constructed using 10
[2 M] junctions of Chromel-constantan (sensitivity
(A) 13.41 (B) 26.02 60 μV/0C for each junction) connected in
(C) 57.53 (D) 90.14 series. The output is fed to an amplifier
Q.13 The RTD placed in hot water bath of having an infinite input impedance and a
temperature 1000C . Based on the gain gain of 10. The output from the amplifier is
calculated in previous question, the error in acquired using a 10-bit ADC, with reference
the measured value of the temperature due voltage of 5 V. The resolution of this system
to bridge non-linearity is [2 M] in units of 0 C is . [2 M]
(A)  0.10 C (B)  0.40 C Q.18 The Seeback coefficients, in V/ C , for
0

(C)  0.90 C (D) 1.20 C copper, constantan and iron, with respect to
platinum, are 1.9, – 38.3 and 13.3,
Q.14 For a copper-constantan (Type T) respectively. The magnitude of the thermo
thermocouple, the junction potential E (in emf E developed in the circuit shown in the
V ) at 0C is given by figure, in millivolts is mV. [2 M]
0

E  38.74  3.3102 2  2.07 104 3 Constantan T2 = 500C T1 = 0 C

–
2.2106 4
Copper E
higher order terms, assuming the cold Iron
junction compensation. The sensitivity of +0
0
thermocouple at 1000 C is approximately T3 = 50 C T1 = 0 C
[2 M] Q.19 In the circuit below, the op-amp is ideal and
(A) 45.34 V/ C
0
(B) 42.75 V/ C
0 the sensor is an RTD whose resistance
R  1000(1 0.004 )  , where  is
(C) 38.74 V/ 0C (D) 0.06 V/ 0C
temperature in 0 C . The output sensitivity in
Q.15 The temperature of a furnace is monitored a
distance of 50 m away. The temperature mV/0C is . [2 M]
1000(1+0.004) 
transmitter has a range of 0- 5000 C and 
provides 4-20 mA current output. The  1 k
–
measured temperature and the output current V0
have a straight line relationship with positive +
– 10 k
5V +
slope. The temperature is determined from 10 k
the voltage measured across a resistance of
500  in the current loop. If the voltage
 GATE ACADEMY® 21 Temperature Measurement

Answer Keys

Objective & Numerical Answer Type Questions

1. D 2. C 3. D 4. B 5. D
6. B 7. C 8. B 9. C 10. A
11. D 12. B 13. A 14. 96 15. 77
16. 1612.28 17. 0.2 18. B
Practice (Objective & Numerical Answer) Questions
a-h, b-f,
1. C 2. 3. C 4. D 5. C
c-e, d-g
6. A 7. B 8. D 9. D 10. D
11. D 12. B 13. B 14. B 15. B
16. – 0.0409 17. 0.814 18. 1.236 19. 10

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Chapter 4

Flow Measurement
Transmitter -1/
Objective & Numerical Ans Type Questions : Receiver-2
Q.1 An example of a variable area device for
measuring flow is 600

[GATE 1996, IISc Bangalore] [1 M]

L V m/s
(A) Flow nozzle (B) Orificemeter
600
(C) Venturimeter (D) Rotameter
Q.2 Which of the following restrictors has the
highest discharge co-efficient?
Transmitter -2/Receiver-1
[GATE 2000, IIT Kharagpur] [1 M]
(A) 0.2 m/s (B) 2 m/s
(A) Orifice plate (B) Flow nozzle
(C) 0.4 m/s (D) 40 m/s
(C) Venturi tube (D) Pitot tube
Q.5 The accompanying figure shows a
Q.3 In a variable area flow meter (rota meter),
VERTICAL venturimeter with upward
the inlet tube diameter is the same as that of
water flow. When the measured static
the effective float diameter and the tube
pressure difference, P1  P2 , between the
taper is small. When the volume flow rate of
inlet and the throat is 30 kPa, the flow rate is
a fluid is Q1 , the float stands at a height of
found to be 50 liters per second. Assume
70 mm from the inlet and when the volume
flow rate of the fluid is Q , the float moves that the coefficient of discharge remains the
2
same. When P1  P2  20 kPa , the flow rate
to a height of 20 mm from the inlet. The
in liters per second, is
ratio of the flow rates Q1 / Q2 is
[GATE 2007, IIT Kanpur] [2 M]
[GATE 2005, IIT Bombay] [1 M]
(A) 3.5 (B) 0.29
(C) 0.082 (D) 12.3
Q.4 Figure given below shows an ultrasound
flow meter with the transducers separated by
a distance L  25 mm with the line joining Throat
(2)
0
the transducers making an angle 60 with
400 mm
the direction of the flow. The transit time
difference between upstream and (1)
downstream measurements is 10 ns with the Inlet

sound velocity in the medium being 1000

m/s. Assuming that the size of the
transducers is very small as compared to the
diameter of the pipe, the flow velocity is (A) 33.3 (B) 39.3
[GATE 2005, IIT Bombay] [1 M] (C) 40.8 (D) 54.2
GATE ACADEMY® 23 Flow Measurement
Q.6 In a laminar flow experiment, fluid A is at 00 C is 10 , Surface area is 104 m2 , linear
pumped through a straight tube and the temperature coefficient of resistance of the tungsten
volumetric flow rate and pressure drop per
wire is 4.8103 /0C , Convective heat transfer
unit length are recorded. In a second straight
coefficient is 25.2 W/m2/0C, flowing air temperature
tube having twice the internal diameter of
the first one, fluid B records the same is 300 C, wire current is 100 mA, mass-specific heat
pressure drop per unit length at the same product is 2.5105 J/0C .
volumetric flow rate. Assuming fully Q.9 The thermal time constant of the hot wire
developed flow conditions in the tubes, the under flowing air condition in ms is
ratio of the dynamic viscosity of fluid B to [GATE 2013, IIT Bombay] [2 M]
that of fluid A is
(A) 24.5 (B) 12.25
[GATE 2007, IIT Kanpur] [1 M]
(C) 6.125 (D) 3.0625
(A) 16 (B) 32
Q.10 At steady state, the resistance of the wire in
(C) 64 (D) 128
 is [GATE 2013, IIT Bombay] [2 M]
Q.7 Water (density : 1000 kgm3 ) stored in a
(A) 10.000 (B) 10.144
cylindrical drum of diameter 1 m is emptied
(C) 12.152 (D) 14.128
through a horizontal pipe of diameter 0.05
Q.11 The velocity of flow of water (density 1000
m. A pitot-static tube is placed inside the
pipe facing the flow. At the time when the kg/m3) in a horizontal pipe is measured
difference between the stagnation and static using the PITOT tube shown below. The
pressure measured by the pitot-static tube is fluid in the U-tube manometer is mercury
10 kPa, the rate of reduction in water level with a density of 13534 kg/m3. Assume
in the drum is, g  9.81 m/s2 . If the height difference (h) is
[GATE 2012, IIT Delhi] [2 M] measured as 94.1 mm, the velocity of flow
of water in m/s is .
1 1
(A) ms-1 (B) ms-1 [GATE 2016, IISc Bangalore] [2 M]
200 5 75 5
1 1 Water flow
(C) ms-1 (D) ms-1
50 10 40 5
Q.8 The differential pressure transmitter of a
flow meter using a Venturi tube reads h

2.5105 Pa for a flow rate of 0.5 m3 /s . The Hg

approximate flow rate in m3 /s for a

differential pressure 0.9 10 Pa is
5 Q.12 A Pitot-Static tube is used to estimate the
velocity of an incompressible fluid of
[GATE 2013, IIT Bombay] [1 M]
density 1 kg/m3. If the pressure difference
(A) 0.30 (B) 0.18
measured by the tube is 200 N/m2, the
(C) 0.83 (D) 0.60 velocity of the fluid, assuming the pitot-tube
Common Data for coefficient to be 1.0 is m/s.
Question 9 & 10 [GATE 2019, IIT Madras]

A tungsten wire used in a constant current hot wire

anemometer has the following parameters resistance
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 24 GATE ACADEMY®

Practice (objective & Num Ans) Questions : Q.6 “Vena Contracta” is the cross section where
the flow area is minimum for a restriction
Q.1 A pitot static tube is used to measure the
type flow meter, for an orifice meter, if d is
airflow rate in a square tube. If Pd is the the diameter of the orifice opening, then the
differential pressure, the flow rate is area of the vena contracta is approximately.
proportional to [1 M] [1 M]
(A) Pd (B) Pd d 2 0.99d 2
(A) (B)
1 4 4
(C) (D) P2 2 2
d 0.8d 0.6d
Pd (C) (D)
4 4
Q.2 For flow measurement, a rotameter can be Q.7 The figure shows the cross-sectional
installed in a pipeline [1 M] diagram of an orifice flow meter with an
(A) horizontally with flow inlet in a specific orifice radius R. Point ‘a’ is 30 R upstream
direction. while points ‘b’ and ‘c’ are 0.8 R and 30 R
(B) horizontally with flow inlet in any downstream from the orifice respectively.
direction.
The pressure at points a, b and c are Pa , Pb
(C) vertically with flow inlet at the bottom
and Pc respectively. Then [1 M]
and the outlet at the top.
(D) vertically with flow inlet at the top and
outlet at the bottom. Flow

Q.3 An example of a positive displacement flow 2R

meter is [1 M] a c
b
(A) orifice meter
(B) rotary vane type meter (A) Pc  Pb  Pa (B) Pb  Pc  Pa
(C) turbine type meter
(C) Pa  Pb  Pc (D) Pa  Pc  Pb
(D) ultrasonic flow meter
Q.4 For a steady flow of liquid, the float of the Q.8 A differential pressure transmitter is used to
Rotameter will remain in a particular measure the flow rate in a pipe. Due to
position when [1 M] aging, the sensitivity of the pressure
(A) drag force is balanced by the weight of transmitter is reduced by 5%. All other
the float and buoyancy force. aspects of the flow meter remaining
(B) weight of the float is balanced by the constant, change in the sensitivity of the
drag force and buoyancy force. flow measurement is [2 M]
(C) buoyancy force is balanced by the drag (A) 10.0% (B) 5.0%
force and weight of the float. (C) 2.5% (D) 2.2%
(D) drag force and buoyancy together is Q.9 In a flapper-nozzle displacement transducer,
slightly greater than the weight of the the values of the following parameters are
float. given : [2 M]
Q.5 Which of the following flow meters has the Diameter of the orifice  0.2 mm,
lowest pressure drop for a given range of Diameter of the nozzle  0.8 mm,
flow? [1 M]
Supply pressure  1.4 102 kPa (gauge),
(A) Orificemeter (B) Venturimeter
(C) Flow nozzle (D) Rotameter Ambient pressure  0 (gauge)
GATE ACADEMY® 25 Flow Measurement
The maximum value of the sensitivity is
(A) 4.0 MPa/mm Transducer
(B) 5.6 MPa/mm
(C) 6.4 MPa/mm
0
(D) 7.3 MPa/mm Direction of 45
0.5 m
Q.10 A turbine flow meter is rotating at 72 rpm. Fluid flow

The flux  linked to the nearby magnet and

coil assembly is given by ()  3  cos(4)
mWb, where  is the angular position (in Transducer
radian). The amplitude and frequency of the
output voltage signal, respectively, are
The inner diameter of the pipe is 0.5 m. The
[2 M]
differential transit time is directly measured
(A) 4 mV and 45.8 Hz using a clock of frequency 5 MHz. The
(B) 30.2 mV and 4.8 Hz velocity of the fluid is small compared to the
(C) 30.2 mv and 30.2 Hz velocity of sound in the static fluid, which is
1500 m/s and the size of the crystals is
(D) 288 mV and 45.8 Hz
negligible compared to the diameter of the
Q.11 The pressure and velocity at the throat of a pipe. The minimum change in fluid velocity
venture tube, measuring the flow of a liquid, (m/s) that can be measured using this system
are related to the upstream pressure and is . [2 M]
velocity, respectively, as follows [1 M]
Q.14 Liquid flow rate is measured using [1 M]
(A) Pressure is lower but velocity is higher. (A) a Pirani gauge
(B) Pressure is higher but velocity is lower. (B) a pyrometer
(C) Both pressure and velocity are lower. (C) an orifice plate
(D) Pressure and velocity are identical. (D) a Bourdon tube
Q.12 For a rotameter, which one of the following Q.15 The pressure drop across an orifice plate for
statements is TRUE? [1 M] a particular flow rate is 5 kg/m2 . If the flow
(A) The weight of the float is balanced by rate is doubled (within the operating range
the buoyancy and the drag force acting of the orifice), the corresponding pressure
on the float. drop in kg/m2 is [1 M]
(B) The velocity of the fluid remains (A) 2.5 (B) 5.0
constant for all positions of the float. (C) 20.0 (D) 25.0
(C) The measurement of volume flow rate of Q.16 The magnetic flux density of an
gas is not possible. electromagnetic flow meter is 100 mWb/m2
(D) The volume flow rate is insensitive to . The electrodes are wall-mounted inside the
changes in density of the fluid. pipe having a diameter of 0.25 m. A voltage
of 1 V is generated when a conducting fluid
Q.13 A transit time ultrasonic flow meter uses a
is passed through the flow meter. The
pair of ultrasonic transducers placed at 450 volumetric flow rate of the fluid in m3 /s
angle, as shown in the figure.
is . [2 M]
 Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 26 GATE ACADEMY®
Q.17 The average velocity v of flow of clear water
in a 100 cm (inner) diameter tube is
measured using the ultrasonic flow meter as
shown in the figure. The angle  is 45°. The
measured transit times are t1  0.9950 ms
and t2  1.0000 ms. The velocity v (in m/s)
in the pipe is (up to one decimal place)
. [2 M]
Tx / Rx

v 100 cm
0
45
Tx / Rx

Answer Keys

Objective & Numerical Answer Type Questions

1. D 2. C 3. A 4. C 5. B
6. A 7. D 8. A 9. B 10. D
11. 4.81 12. 20
Practice (Objective & Numerical Answer) Questions
1. A 2. C 3. B 4. B 5. B
6. D 7. D 8. B 9. B 10. B
11. A 12. A 13. 0.4 14. C 15. C
16. 1.9634 17. 5.025

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Chapter 5

Pressure Measurement

Objective & Numerical Ans Type Questions : atmospheric pressure is 100 kPa, the
absolute pressure is
Q.1 The operation of a Pirani gauge is bused on
[GATE 1996, IISc Bangalore] [1 M]
[GATE 1992, IIT Delhi] [1 M]
(A) l05 kPa (B) 0.05 kPa
(A) ionization ol gas at low pressure
(C) 95 kPa (D) 20 kPa
(B) variation of volume with pressure
Q.6 A Mcleod gauge has a volume of the bulb
(C) variation of viscosity with pressure
equal to 100 cm–3 and a capillary of
(D) variation of thermal conductivity of gas
diameter 1 mm. calculate the pressure
with pressure
indicated by a reading of 3 cm. What error
Q.2 Bellow's expansion is usually against spring. would result if the capillary volume to the
The spring is provided to volume of the bolb.
[GATE 1994, IIT Kharagpur] [1 M] [GATE 1997, IIT Madras] [1 M]
(A) increase sensitivity Q.7 Match the pressure measuring devices with
(B) increase operating range the pressure levels in torr
(C) increase linearity [GATE 1998, IIT Delhi] [1 M]
(D) decrease hysteresis effect (a) Bourdon tube
Q.3 Assuming uniform pressure over the (b) Ionization gauge
supported area, the friction moment in (c) Water manometer
an axial bearing of a shaft of diameter d for (d) Pirani
an axial load of F (with co-efficient of
friction  ) is given by (e) 103
[GATE 1996, IISc Bangalore] [1 M] (f) 10–10
(g) 1.0
4 1 (h) 10–5
(A) Fd (B) Fd
3 3 Q.8 An elastic transducer is used to measure
2 pressure in a vessel and it indicates a
(C) Fd (D) Fd
3 pressure of 3.2 bar. Atmospheric pressure is
Q.4 The primary standard for calibrating vacuum 1.01 bar. The absolute pressure in the vessel
is [GATE 1996, IISc Bangalore] [1 M] in bar is
(A) McLeod gauge [GATE 1999, IIT Bombay] [2 M]
(B) Deadweight tester (A) 1.01 (B) 2.19
(C) Thermocouple gauge (C) 3.20 (D) 4.21
(D) Kundsen gauge Q.9 Which of the following gauges can measure
the lowest vacuum pressure?
Q.5 A pressure gauge used to measure vaccum
indicates a gauge pressure of 5 kPa. If the [GATE 2000, IIT Kharagpur] [2 M]
(A) McLeod gauge
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 28 GATE ACADEMY®
(B) Pirani gauge p1  p2 the common liquid level is denoted
(C) Ionisation gauge by A. When p1  p2 , the liquid level in the
Q.10 A Pirani gauge sensor is used to measure well is depressed to B, and the level in the
pressure of the order of tube rises by l along its length such that the
[GATE 2002, IISc Bangalore] [1 M] difference in the tube and well levels is hd .
(A) 10 MPa (B) 1 MPa p1
(C) 100 Pa (D) 1 Pa p2
Q.11 A pressure sensor has the following
specifications.
l
Sensitivity at the design temperature, p1  p2 hd
= 10 V/MPa, A

Zero drift = 0.01 V/°C, ......................................
.....................................................
Sensitivity drift = 0.01 (V/MPa)/°C ....................................................

When the sensor is used in an ambient 20° C The angle of inclination 0 of the tube with
above the design temperature, the output the horizontal is
from the device is 7.4 V. The true value of   l a  h a 
(A) sin   w  (B) sin   t 

1  1 d
the pressure will be 

 hd at   l aw 
[GATE 2004, IIT Delhi] [2 M]  h a   h a 
(A) 0.71 MPa (B) 0.68 MPa (C) sin1 d  t (D) sin1 d  w 
l a  l a 
    

(C) 0.65 MPa (D) 0.61 MPa  w   t 

Q.12 The diameter of an aluminium sphere is Q.15 A U - tube manometer of tube diameter D is
found to be 50 mm at an atmospheric filled with a liquid of zero viscosity. If the
pressure of 105 Pa. The bulk modulus for volume of the liquid filled is V, the natural
aluminium is 68.6 GPa. The change in the frequency of oscillations in the liquid level
diameter of the sphere in microns, when about its mean position, due to small
placed in vacuum is perturbations, is
[GATE 2005, IIT Bombay] [1 M] [GATE 2012, IIT Delhi] [2 M]
(A) 0.018 (B) 0.024 Dg 2 2 gV
(A) (B)
 D
2
(C) 0.032 (D) 0.038 2 2 V
Q.13 A Pirani gauge measures vacuum pressure
1 gD 1 g
and works on the principle of (C) (D)
2  V 
1/3
D
[GATE 2006, IIT Kharagpur] [1 M]
Q.16 The most suitable pressure gauge to measure
(A) change in ionizing potential
pressure in the range of 10–4 to 10–3 torr is
(B) change in thermal conductivity
[GATE 2017, IIT Roorkee] [1 M]
(C) deformation of elastic body
(A) Bellows (B) Barometer
(D) change in self - inductance
(C) Strain gauge (D) Pirani gauge
Q.14 A well of cross-sectional area aw is
connected to an inclined tube of cross-
sectional area at to form a different pressure
gauge as shown in the figure below. When
 GATE ACADEMY® 29 Pressure Measurement

Answer Keys

Objective & Numerical Answer Type Questions

1. D 2. B 3. D 4. A 5. C
6. 0.014 7. ** 8. D 9. C 10. D
11. A 12. B 13. B 14. C 15. A
16. D

**7. a - g, b - h, c - c, d - f

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Chapter 6

Miscellaneous

Practice (objective & Num Ans) Questions : Q.4 Identify the correct set of matches from the
following : [1 M]
Q.1 Match the device with its working principle.
A. Pirani gauge
(a) Bourdon gauge [1 M]
B. Venturi meter
(b) Pirani gauge
C. Radiation pyrometer
(c) Semi-conductor strain gauge
D. Load cell
(d) Bimetallic strip

(e) Thermal conductivity E. Temperature measurement

(f) Thermal co-efficient of expression F. Vacuum pressure measurement
(g) Piezo-resistive effect G. Force measurement
(h) Photoelectric effect H. Flow measurement
(i) Deformation of element (A) A-F, B-E, C-H, D-G
Q.2 Match the following instruments with the (B) A-H, B-G, C-F, D-E
measurements : [1 M] (C) A-F, B-H, C-E, D-G
(a) Rotameter (b) Tachometer (D) None of the above
(c) Tracer (d) Pyrometer Q.5 In the context of transducers, identify the
correct matches : [1 M]
(e) Rotational speed (f) Roughness A. Mean free path
(g) Temperature (h) Flow rate B. Humidity
Q.3 Identify the correct set of matches from the C. Heat transfer co-efficient
following : [1 M] D. Intensity of radiation
(A) LVDT 1. Optical pyrometer
(B) Piezoelectric crystal 2. Knudsen gauge
(C) pH probe 3. Sling psychrometer
(D) Thermocouple 4. Hot wire anemometer
(E) Reference junction compensation (A) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
(F) Charge amplifier (B) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
(G) Phase sensitive detector (C) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
(H) High input impedance amplifier (D) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
(A) A-E, B-G, C-H, D-F Q.6 Different types of transducers and signal
(B) A-G, B-F, C-H, D-E conditioning circuits are given below, match
(C) A-H, B-E, C-F, D-E the transducer with the appropriate signal
(D) None of the above conditioning circuit commonly used with it.
GATE ACADEMY® 31 Miscellaneous
Group – I [1 M] W. Angular velocity measurement
1. DC bridge X. Vacuum pressure measurement
2. Phase sensitive detector Y. Flow measurement
3. Charge amplifier Z. Temperature measurement
4. Cold junction compensation (A) P-Z, Q-W, R-X, S-Y
5. Instrumentation amplifier (B) P-Z, Q-Y, R-X, S-W
Group - II (C) P-W, Q-X, R-Y, S-Z
P. Thermocouple (D) P-Z, Q-X, R-W, S-Y
Q. Strain gauge Q.9 In the measurement of pH, a reference
R. Piezoelectric sensor electrode made of is used. [1 M]
S. L.V.D.T. Q.10 A cantilever is used as a primary sensing
element for the measurement of force. The
(A) P-2, Q-3, R-5, S-1
measured deflection is 1 mm. Suppose each
(B) P-1, Q-5, R-2, S-3
of the dimensions, length, width and
(C) P-4, Q-1, R-2, S-5 thickness of the cantilever are doubled for
(D) P-4, Q-1, R-3, S-2 the same material and force, the deflection
Q.7 Match the essential amplifier characteristics will be [2 M]
with the sensing applications given below, (A) 0.125 mm (B) 0.25 mm
Amplifier characteristics [1 M] (C) 0.5 mm (D) 2 mm
P. Charge amplifier with very low bias Q.11 Value of pH of a solution is 4. It indicates
current and high input impedance. that concentration of hydrogen ions is[1 M]
Q. Voltage amplifier with low bias current (A) 104 g/litre and the solution is acidic
and very high input impedance.
(B) 104 g/litre and the solution is alkalite
R. Voltage amplifier with very high
(C) 104 mg/litre and the solution is acidic
CMRR.
Sensing applications (D) 104 mg/litre and the solution is alkalite
L. Strain gauge in unipolar DC Wheatstone Q.12 A pH electrode, being used at 250 C , has a
bridge source resistance of 1010  . The electrode
M. Glass electrode pH sensor obeys the Nernst equation perfectly. The
N. Piezoelectric sensor for measurement of electronic voltmeter, with which the
static force. potential is being measured, has an input
(A) P-L, Q-M, R-N impedance of 1011 and a gain of 100. If
the pH of the analyte changes from 6.5 to
(B) P-M, Q-N, R-L
7.8, the change in voltage observed on the
(C) P-N, Q-L, R-M voltmeter is [2 M]
(D) P-N, Q-M, R-L (A) Less than 6.8 V
Q.8 Match the following : [1 M] (B) Between 6.8 V and 7.19 V
P. Radiation pyrometer (C) Between 7.2 V and 7.49 V
Q. Dall tube (D) Greater than 7.49 V
R. Pirani gauge Q.13 Assuming complete dissociation, the pH of a
S. Gyroscope 1 mM solution of H2SO4 is closest to [1 M]
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 32 GATE ACADEMY®
(A) 0 (B) 2.7 Detector

(C) 2.4 (D) 2.1

Q.14 A mass-spring-damper system with force as
input and displacement of the mass as output
Water
has a transfer function
1
G(s)  2 , A force input
(s  24s  900) Source
F (t)  10 sin (70t) Newton is applied at time
Q.16 If I is the current flowing through a Hall
t  0s . A beam from an option stroboscope effect sensor and B is the magnetic flux
is focused on the mass. In steady state, the density perpendicular to the direction of
strobe frequency in hertz at which the mass current (in the plane of Hall effect sensor).
appears to be stationary is [1 M] The Hall voltage generated is
5 15 [GATE 2020, IIT Delhi]
(A) (B)
  (A) Inversely proportional to both I and B
35 50 (B) Directly proportional to both I and B
(C) (D)
  (C) Inversely proportional to I and directly
Q.15 A liquid level measurement system proportional to B
employing a radio-isotope is mounted on a (D) Directly proportional to I and inversely
tank as shown in the figure. The absorption proportional to B
coefficient of water for the radiation is 7.7
m1 . If the height of water in the tank is
reduced from 100 mm to 90 mm, the
percentage change in the radiation intensity
received by the detector, neglecting
absorption of the radiation by air, is
%. [GATE 2015, IIT Kanpur]

Answer Keys

Practice (Objective & Numerical Answer) Questions

a-h, b-
a-i, b-e,
1. 2. e, c-f, d- 3. B 4. C 5. D
c-g, d-f
g
6. D 7. D 8. B 9. Hg+HgCl 10. C
11. A 12. B 13. B 14. C 15. 0.8
16. B


Chapter 7

Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)

1. Which one of the following is/ are an active (A) requires a signals conditioning circuit to
transducer (s)? achieve fidelity
(A) Photo voltaic cell (B) is immune to stray magnetic fields
(B) Strain gauge (C) has a zero voltage at the null point even
if the supply voltage contains and
(C) Thermocouple
harmonics and even if the two
(D) Synchro secondary windings are not exactly
2. A resistance potentiometer is a……….. similar and even asymmetrically placed
(A) Displacement Transducer with respect to primary winding
(B) Zero order instrument (D) LVDT is a Active transducer
7. A capacitive transducer working on the
(C) second order instrument
principle of change of capacitance with
(D) Temperature Transducer change of displacement, exhibits non-linear
3. Strain gauge, LVDT and Microphone may characteristics. The response of these
be classified as transducers can be made linear by using
(A) Active transducers (A) differential arrangement
(B) Analogue transducers (B) use of an OPAMP
(C) working them over a small displacement
(C) Passive transducers
range
(D) Reverse Transducers
(D) By using with AC supply voltage
4. Which of the following statements related to 8. Consider the following statements
Quartz is/ are True ( )------- piezoelectric materials Which of these
(A) natural group of piezo-electric materials statements is/are correct?
(B) synthetic group of piezo-electric (A) A source of ultrasonic waves.
materials (B) When electric field is applied, the
(C) Used in watch for clock generation mechanical dimensions of the
substances are not at all altered.
(D) It is a Hygroscopic material
(C) Converts electrical energy to mechanical
5. Dummy strain gauge is used in conjunction and vice versa
with the main strain gauge to ()
(D) Converts thermal energy to electrical
(A) Calibrate the system energy.
(B) Compensate temperature effects 9. Consider the following statements: Which
(C) Improve sensitivity of these statements are correct?
(D) Reduce strain on the main gauge Piezoelectric materials …
(A) Crystal can be shown as electrical
6. Which of the following statement (s) is / are
equivalent circuit similar to an inductor
not correct for LVDT --------
and a capacitor (Tank circuit)
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 34 GATE ACADEMY®
(B) Quartz, Rochelle salt, tourmaline. (C) Which behave as resistors with a high
(C) Used in voltage stabilizers. negative temperature coefficient of
resistances
(D) This exhibits the reverse effect
(D) Which maintain poor sensitivity
electrostriction.
compare to RTD
10. Which of the following are piezo-electric
14. The RTDs use the principle of change of
substances?
resistance with temperature. The properties
(A) Barium titanate of a conductor material to be used as an
(B) Globar Rod element of an RTD should possess the
(C) Lead Zirconate Titanate following properties
(A) the change in resistance per unit change
(D) Cadmium sulphate
in temperature should be as small as
11. Consider the following statements in possible
connection with measurement of (B) the resistance of the materials should
temperature. Which of these statements are have a continuous and stable
correct? relationship with temperature
(A) A thermistor is highly sensitive as (C) the change of resistance with
compared with Platinum Resistance temperature should be a linear function
Thermometer. (D) the material must be chemically innert in
(B) The resistance of a thermistor is solely a nature
function of its absolute temperature 15. Platinum is the commonly used metal for
whether the source of heat is external, RTDs. This is because
internal or both. (A) platinum has a constant value of
(C) A thermistor has linear resistance resistance temperature co-efficient of
temperature characteristics. 0.004C for a temperature range
(D) Most thermistors exhibit negative between 0 to 100C
resistance temperature coefficient. (B) The resistivity of platinum tends to
increase less rapidly at higher
12. Platinum is the commonly used metal for
temperatures
resistance-temperature detectors (RTDs)
(C) platinum is available in pure form for
because
commercial applications and has a
(A) it is commercially available in pure form stability over higher ranges of
at reasonable rates temperature
(B) it is relatively stable under various (D) It exhibits highly nonlinear
environment conditions. characteristics
(C) it has wide operating temperature range. 16. A thermistor has……….
(D) it is the low-cost material for RTD (A) only a negative change of resistance with
design increase in temperature
(B) only a positive change of resistance with
13. Thermistors are essentially semiconductors
increase in temperature
(A) Well suited to precision measurement of
(C) can exhibit either a negative or positive
temperatures
change of resistance with increase of
(B) Widely used in the lower temperature temperature depending upon the type of
range of 1000C to 3000C material used
GATE ACADEMY® 35 Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)
(D) various shapes and sizes so that easy to 21. Consider the following statements of Turbine
design and fabricate in consumer flowmeter. Which of these statements is/are
electronic products correct?
17. The temperature transducers exhibit non- (A) It derives its name from the operating
linear behavior. The order in which they principle employed.
exhibit non-linearity (highest to lowest) is (B) It is perhaps the most highly
(A) Thermocouples, RTDs, Thermistors developed non-friction displacement
(B) Thermistors, thermocouples, RTDs type of mechanical flow meter.

(C) RTDs, thermocouples, thermistors (C) It provides direct method for measuring
both liquid and gas flow-rates.
(D) Thermistors, RTDs, thermocouples
(D) It is non obstructive flow meter
18. Three types of temperature transducers are
22 A flowmeter that is independent of liquid
compared as regard their sensitivity. The
density is
order in which they exhibit their sensitivities
(highest to lowest) is (A) Rotameter
(A) Thermistors, RTDs, thermocouples (B) Electromagnetic flow meter
(B) thermocouples, RTDs, thermistors (C) Venturi meter
(C) RTDs, thermistors, thermocouples (D) Orifice meter

(D) RTDs, thermocouples, thermistors 23. The main advantage(s) of the orifice plate
are that
19. Which of the following statement related
Thermocouples(s) is/are True …? (A) it is quite cheap and easiest to install
and to replace.
(A) are most commonly used Temperature
(B) it is suitable for short length fluids
transducers
(C) it has good recovery rate
(B) They require external power supply
(D) it is non obstructive flowmeter
(C) have a low output voltage level
24. The operation of Pirani gauge depends upon
(D) Alloys are used as materials to measure
the
the high temperature
(A) variation of the thermal conductivity of
20. Consider the following statements of
a gas with the change in pressure.
Electromagnetic flowmeter. Which of these
statements is/are correct? (B) variation of the electrical conductivity
of a gas with the change in pressure.
(A) Electromagnetic flow meter is
independent of liquid density. (C) variation in humidity of the medium
with the change in pressure
(B) Electromagnetic flow meter cannot be
employed for measuring flow of non – (D) none of the above
conducting fluids. 25. Consider the following units for the
measurement of pressure directly:
(C) Electromagnetic low meter is an
obstructive flow meter. (A) Bellows
(D) Electromagnetic flow meter works on (B) Bourdon tube
Differential pressure transmitter (C) Planti meter
principle. (D) LVDT
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 36 GATE ACADEMY®
26. Gauge factor of a strain is defined as the (A) Bi-metallic thermometer is unsuitable if
ratio of a the temperature changes are rapid
(A) per unit change in the conductivity to (B) Optical pyrometer is the most suitable
the per unit change in applied force thermometer for the measurement of
acting on the element temperature of the wire of an
(B) per unit change in the resistance to the incandescent bulb
per unit change in the length of the (C) Response and sensitivity of a
element thermocouple is improved by using thick
(C) per unit change in the stress to the per wires
unit change in strain of the element (D) Platinum is preferred in resistance
thermometers because it is physically
(D) Electrical strain to mechanical strain
stable and has high electrical
27. Consider the following statements: Which of
characteristics.
the statements is not correct
30. Consider the following statements pertaining
(A) Capacitive transducers dynamic to the act of temperature measurement
characteristics are similar to Lowpass Which of these statement (s) is/are
Filter. correct……?
(B) LVDT is a self-generating type of (A) The primary fixed point (triple point of
transducer. water) gives a temperature of 273.16 K
(C) Eddy current type of transducer gives an (B) Bimetallic thermometer is unsuitable if
output proportional to velocity the temperature changes are rapid.
(D) A piezoelectric transducer gives poor (C) Thermistors have a fast speed of thermal
response to measure static variable response because of high sensitivity and
28. Consider the following statements pertaining availability in extremely small size.
to the act of temperature measurement. (D) The law of intermediate metals in
Which of the following statement (s) is/are thermo-couple permits use of certain
true ………. metals as thermo-couple materials.
(A) Thermocouple combination in series is 31. Consider the following statements of
used when average temperature is to be transducers
measured Which of these statement (s) is/are
False……?
(B) Law of intermediate metal in thermo-
(A) The temperature of a red-hot moving
couples allows them to use extension
material like molten steel can be
wires of materials
measured be series arrangement of
(C) Thermistors are semiconductors which
thermocouples.
have negative coefficient of resistance
(B) According to Stefan-Boltzmann law, the
(D) Bi-metallic strips made of two different amount of radiant energy per unit area of
materials bend during a rise in proportional to absolute temperature.
temperature on account of difference in (C) Linear variable differential transformer
their coefficient of linear expansion (LVDT) is an active transducer working
29. Consider the following statements pertaining a principle of variable resistance.
to the act of temperature measurement (D) Piezo-electric crystals are used for the
Which of these statement (s) is/are measurement of static as well as
correct……? dynamic changes.
GATE ACADEMY® 37 Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)
32. Consider the following statements pertaining 35. Which of the following are variables in the
Which of these statement (s) is/are Reynolds number equation? Select all
correct……? options that apply.
(A) High value of pot resistance leads to (A) Fluid density
high sensitivity. (B) Fluid velocity
(B) Capacitive transducers used for the (C) Pipe inside diameter
measurement of liquid level operate of (D) Fluid viscosity
the point of capacitance change with 36. These following are the statements on
change of distance between plates. rotameter which of them is True
(C) Hall effect transducers are highly (A) Rotameter is a variable area type
sensitive to temperature variations. flowmeter
(D) Photo-conductive transduce is a light (B) Glass material is generally preferred in
controlled variable resistor. Rotameters
33. Consider the following statements. Which of (C) Rotameters are applicable for high
these statement (s) is/are false……? viscous fluids
(A) When a static force is applied to a piezo- (D) Rotameter has to be installed in vertical
electric transducer, there occur direction always for a flow
oscillations in the generated electric 37. Which of these following devices are used
change. for measuring vacuum pressure,
(B) Piezo-electric transducer, produce an (A) Mcleod gauge
emf when external magnetic field is (B) Hydrometer
applied across them. (C) Pirani gauge
(C) The abbreviation LVDT stands for linear (D) Thermal conductivity gauge
voltage differential transformer. 38. Most of all the Barometers use Mercury as
(D) Hall effect is observed in Metals only. the fluid because of …..
34. Consider the following statements. Which of (A) Mercury does not stick to the walls of
these statement (s) is/are false……? the tubing
(A) The unbalanced bridge method of using (B) Mercury has good frequency response
Wheatstone bridge circuit compared (C) Mercury has high viscosity
with the null method is less accurate. (D) Mercury has high density
(B) The sensitivity of a capacitive transducer 39. These following are the reasons for choosing
working as the principle of change in semiconductor strain gauge for precision
capacitances with change of distance measurements of weight. which of them is
between the plates is not constant but True ?
varies over the range of transducer. (A) Thy have high Gauge factor
(C) Magnetic peck up sensors produces (B) They are less sensitive to temperature
pulse form a rotating shaft where a measurement
mechanical contact is made. (C) They can measure least strain s of 1
(D) The photo-voltaic cell converts the light micron also
information to resistance change of the (D) They will work on principle of Hall
electric circuit. effect
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 38 GATE ACADEMY®
40. These following statements are related to 45. These following statements are related to
Ultrasonic flowmeter. Which one of them transducers mathematical modeling.
is/are True? Which of these statement (s) is /are true?
(A) Time shift method is less accurate than (A) Zero, first and second order system can
Doppler shift method be ideally represented by a
(B) Thy can be useful for measurement of potentiometer, thermometer and
blood flow rate also accelerometer respectively.
(C) They will use Piezo electric crystals (B) A thermocouple takes a time of
clamped on surface of pipe approximately 4 * time constant to reach
(D) Ultrasonic flowmeter will use the the 98 % of steady state
concept of Differential pressure (C) The dynamic characteristics of Piezo
41. These following are the statements related to electric crystal are similar to that of low
strain gauge. Which of these statement (s) is/ pass filter
are True? (D) The dynamic characteristics of Piezo
(A) Full Wheatstone bridge is more sensitive electric crystal are similar to that of low
than quarter Wheatstone bridge for strain pass filter.
measurement 46. Seismic transducers made by spring mass
(B) Strain gauges can be manufactured by damper systems are useful for measurement
metals and semiconductors also of acceleration
(C) Gauge factor is a dimension less quantity (A) Natural frequency (Wn) is constant and
(D) Bonded strain gauges are less sensitive input frequency (w) is variable.
than Unbonded strain gauges (B) Weak spring and Large mass will yield
42. The following sensor(s) may employ stain more natural frequency
gauge as a secondary transducer (C) Hard spring and Small mass will yield
(A) Load cell more natural frequency
(B) Torsion Bar (D) Steady state sensitivity is the inverse of
(C) Cantilever Beam square of Natural Frequency.
(D) Piezo electric crystal 47. Pyrometers are used for Thermal radiation
43. Which of the following statement(s) related measurement. Which of the following
to capacitive transducers is/are true ? statement (s) is /are True?
(A) The capacitive transducer is best suited (A) Radiation pyrometers are non-contact
for measurement of very small pressure type instruments
differentials under dynamic conditions. (B) Acc to Stefan Boltzmann s law
(B) The capacitive transducer can be excited absorbance is proportional to
by both ac voltage only. concentration
(C) BaTiO3 is a piezoelectric material and is (C) Optical pyrometer is more accurate than
used in a record player. Total Radiation Pyrometer
(D) In a piezoelectric material, stress induces (D) In Total radiation Pyrometers RTD is
polarization and an electric field strains used as the Detector.
the material. 48. These following are the statements related to
44. A Hall effect transducer can be used to PH. Which of the following statement(s) is
measure,………… /are true?
(A) Liquid level (B) temperature (A) The no of [H]+ ions present in 1 Molar
(C) magnetic flux (D) position concentrated solution.
GATE ACADEMY® 39 Multiple Select Questions (MSQ)
(B) The grams of Hydrogen present in 1-liter
solution
(C) Represented as negative logarithm of
Hydrogen ion concentration
(D) PH transducer is a passive type
49. A semiconductor strain gauge ………..
(A) Has a much higher gauge factor than that
of metal wire gauge
(B) Employs Piezo Resistive Property of
semiconductor
(C) Does not require temperature
compensation
(D) Best suitable for least strain
measurements of order of 1 micron also
50. These following statements are related 4-20
mA two wire transmitter. Which of these
statement (s ) is/are true ?
(A) It is less sensitive to background
electrical noise
(B) 4 mA is equal to 0% output; it is
incredibly simple to detect a fault in the
system.
(C) Better for traveling long distances, as
current does not degrade over long
connections like voltage.
(D) The main components of 4- 20 mA
current loop are sensor, transmitter,
powers source, loop, receiver.
Sensor & Industrial Instrumentation 40 GATE ACADEMY®

Answer Keys

1. A, C 2. A, B 3. B, C
4. A, C 5. B, C 6. B, C, D
7. A, B, C 8. A, C, D 9. A, C
10. A, C 11. A, B, D 12. A, B, C
13. A, B, C 14. B, C, D 15. A, B, C
16. C, D 17. B 18. A
19. A, C, D 20. A, B 21. A, B, C
22. B 23. A, B 24. *
25. A, B 26. B, D 27. A, B
28. B, C, D 29. A, B, D 30. A, B, C, D
31. A, B, C, D 32. A, C, D 33. B, C, D
34. C, D 35. A, B, C, D 36. A, B, D
37. A, C, D 38. A, B, D 39. A, C
40. A, B, C 41. A, B, C 42. A, B, C
43. A, C, D 44. A, C, D 45. A, B
46. A, C, D 47. A, C 48. A, B, C
49. A, B, D 50. A, B, C, D

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