Student Name: Group: ID:

Arab Academy for Science,

Technology and Maritime Transport

Term: Spring 2014

Questions for the 7th week Exam
Subject : Experimental Methods Course Code: ME 241
Examiner : Dr. Yasser El-Shaer Time: 1.5 Hours
Attempt All Questions Number of questions:1 Number of Pages:3
Question 1: (8 marks)
U

1) For the thermometer shown in figure, the sensor

is ……………….. which converts the
temperature information into ………………….
and the signal conditioner converts ……………
………into ………………information.
2) The scale range for the thermometer is ………..
and the resolution is………………..
3) The Shown thermometer display is
a. Analog b. Digital c. None of the above
4) The response of the thermometer can be represented using:
a. Zero order system b. First order system c. Second order system
5) Time constant of the thermometer, can be defined as the time required for the output of
to rise to --------of its final value, as a result of a step change in the measurand.
a. 62.3% b. 63.2 % c. 64.2%
o
6) A thermometer is initially at a temperature of 20 C and is suddenly placed in a liquid
which is maintained at 120 o C. the thermometer indicates 70 o C after a time interval of 3
seconds.
a. Estimate the 'time constant' for the thermometer
b. How much time is required to get a reading of at least 95% from the step input?
7) The ability of the instrument to return to zero reading, when there is no measurand is
called-----------------------.
a. Un-stability b. Zero Stability c. Full Stability
8) Dead band can be defined as:
a. The un-responsiveness of the sensor.
b. It describes how much change to the process is required before the sensor actually
responds to it or detects it.
c. All mentioned.
9) Instrument drift is the variation of ----------------, when the input is kept constant.
a. Factors b. Temperature c. Output
10) Match the corresponding description
a. Low accuracy –low precision c. Low Accuracy- high precision
b. Low precision high accuracy d. High precision high accuracy

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Question 2: (11 marks)
1) The necessary conditions for the calibrator are:
a. ..
b. ..
2) Gauge blocks calibrators are considered as:
a. Static standards
b. Reference instruments
c. Combination calibrators
3) Calibrating a Torque meter by applying a known force through a lever of known length is
considered as:
a. Static standards
b. Reference instruments
c. Combination calibrators
4) Mention three requirements that should be mentioned in a calibration certificate.
a. ……………….
b. ……………….
c. ……………….
5) A resistor has a nominal stated value of 10Ω ±1 %. A voltage is applied on the resistor,
and the power dissipated can be calculated in two different ways: 1) from P=E2/R and 2)
from P=E.I. In (1) only a voltage measurement will be made, while both current and
voltage measurement are required in (2). Calculate the uncertainty in power
determination in each case when the measured values of E and I are:
E=100 V ±1% (for both cases)
I=10 A ±1%
Comment in your results.
𝜕𝑃 2𝐸 𝜕𝑃 −𝐸 2
Given That: for the first case = , = 2
𝜕𝐸 𝑅 𝜕𝑅 𝑅

𝜕𝑃 𝜕𝑃
for the Second case = 𝐼, =𝐸
𝜕𝐸 𝜕𝐼

(3 marks)

6) What is meant by computer based Data Acquisition system? Draw a scheme showing
different components and the function of Software and Hardware. (2 marks)

7) If it is required to select a data acquisition system to measure the following:

a. Dynamic force signal with a frequency of 500 Hz.
b. 4 thermocouple inputs (with a max output of 1 V), with a resolution of 0.1 mV.
c. 3 strain gauge based pressure transducers. (with an output voltage up to 10 Volts).
To select the suitable Data acquisition card:
• The required sampling rate to avoid aliasing is ………………..
• The required number of bits for the A/D convertor so that we can resolve the 0.1
mV should be ………………………
• The required number of channels are ……………………………
• The range for input signal is up to …………………………..
(3 marks)

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Question 3: (6 marks)

The Wheatstone bridge is used to measure the minute resistance changes in strain gauges
when measuring strain. Explain briefly (using sketches when possible):

• The advantages of using the Wheatstone bridge.

• For the Vehicle Scale shown in figure, draw the suitable Full bridge arrangement
to measure the weight of the vehicle and compensate for temperature and
misalignment problems and hence deduce the number of active gauges.
• If the beam in the base is made from a square channel cross-section 10x10 cm and
a thickness 2 mm (as shown in figure), the gauge factor for each of the four
gauges is 2.12, the maximum output signal from the bridge is limited to 10 mV,
the minimum resolved voltage is 1 mV, and the supply voltage is 10V, find
the maximum weight that can be measured using that scale and the resolution of
the load cell given that:
P
• The normal stress due to axial load is given by: σ = where P: is the
A
axial load and A:is the cross sectional area.
σ
• The stress strain relation: ε = where:
E
E = 200 GN/m2; v = 0.3.
• The output of a Wheatstone bridge circuit is given by;
Vs .(∆R1 − ∆R 2 −∆R3 + ∆R4 )
Vo =
4.R
where ε is the strain, Vo is the bridge output (V),GF is the gauge factor, and
Vs is the supply to bridge (V).

Platform
Beam 2 mm

Base 10 cm
Beam Cross-section

Note: Support your answers with sketches when possible.

Given:
The response of the first order system is represented by: θo θi (1 − e −t /T )
=

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