Exam - Measurement Technique, ELA210, TEN1, 2023-12-08

Please read these instructions carefully!

• Allowed accessories: calculator and the formula collection.

• The solutions should be written neatly and clearly. First the task needs to be described with the given
values written on the paper. Then the whole calculation procedure should be written. Each final result
(or final formula were applicable) needs to be designated with double line below the result or framed
with a square around it so that it stands out from the rest of the text. Solutions not complying with
these requirements will not be examined.
• Results should be correct both in value and unit. The values should be in the required or reasonable
accuracy.

• Both English and Swedish answers are acceptable for questions requiring text answers.

Total number of points is 47. Grades 5: ≥ 39p, 4: ≥ 31p, 3: ≥ 23p

Responsible lecturers: Ivan Tomasic, phone 021-10 15 55

1
1. Fundamentals of measurement systems:
(a) [1 point] What are the main factors governing the choice of a measuring instrument for a given
application?
(b) [1 point] How is the SI unit second defined?
(c) [1 point] Name at least 4 derived SI units. For each one of them state the quantity it is used for,
name of the unit, and write symbol for the unit.
2. Measurement theory:
(a) [1 point] Let X be a normal random variable (X ∼ N (µ, σ 2 )). What is the expected value and
variance of X?
(b) [1 point] Mathematically define the term sample.
(c) [1 point] Mathematically define the term statistic.
(d) [1 point] Name and mathematically define one particular statistic.
(e) [1 point] A pressure control system in a distillation column is designed to maintain the pressure at
a constant value of 10.9 bar. The following 10 pressure readings (in bars) were obtained at intervals
of 10 min: 10.7, 11.0, 11.2, 10.8, 10.6, 11.1, 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, 11.0. Determine the mean and standard
deviation of the pressure measurements.
(f) [2 points] The volume contained in each of a sample of 10 bottles of an expensive perfume is
measured. If the mean volume of the sample measurements is 100.5ml with a standard deviation
of 0.64ml, calculate the upper and lower bounds to a confidence level of 95% of the mean value of
the whole batch of perfume from which the 10 samples were taken.
(g) [1 point] A linear regression model has been fitted to measurements of temperature T versus time
t. The obtained model is T = a + b · t where a and b are the estimated regression parameters. What
is the estimated measurement sensitivity?
3. Suppose that the components of the circuit shown in Figure 1 have the following values: R1 = 250Ω,
R2 = 750Ω, R3 = 1000Ω, R4 = 500Ω, R5 = 500Ω. The current between A and B is measured by an
ammeter, whose internal resistance is Rm = 50Ω.
(a) [3 points] Calculate the relative measurement error caused by the resistance of the measuring in-
strument?
(b) [1/2 point] Explain why connecting ammeter to the circuit introduces an error in the measurement.
(c) [1/2 point] What is the value of Rm for which there will be no error?

Figure 1: Measurement error in measurement of current.

Page 2
 Figure 2: A database diagram.

4. A database diagram is given on Figure 2. Assume that for each user (a tuple in relation User), there
are two tuples in relation Measurement, each corresponding to a measurement with a different magnetic
pole. The samples for each of the two measurement sequences are in the relation MagField, whereas
relation MagPole contains 2 tuples each for one of the magnet poles (N and S).
(a) [2 points] Mathematically define the term ”function” as it is used within the scope of relational
databases?
(b) [1 point] Define the term ”primary key” by using the term ”function” from (a).
(c) [1 point] State two advantages of using relational databases to store measurements, compared to
storing measurements directly in files.
(d) [1/2 point] How many attributes are in the relation MagField?
(e) [1 point] Which attributes in relation MagField are foreign keys and which attributes are they
referencing.
(f) [1/2 point] Write an SQL statement that returns total number of tuples in the relation MagField.
(g) [1 point] Write an SQL statement that shows all tuples and all attributes in the relation MagField
for the values of attribute Distance less than 1.
5. Consider an LTI system whose input x(t) and output y(t) are related by the differential equation:
d
y(t) + 4y(t) = x(t). (1)
dt
The system also satisfies the condition of initial rest.
(a) [3 points] If x(t) = e(−1+3j)t u(t), what is y(t)? Tip: assume particular solution in the form
yp (t) = K · e(−1+3j)t where K ∈ C is an unknown constant.
6. Temperature and electromagnetic measurements
(a) [1 point] What is the difference between internal energy and heat?

Page 3
 (b) [1 point] Describe two forms of capacitive sensors depending whether the distance between the
plates is fixed or not.
(c) [1/2 point] How are capacitve devices used to measure level of liquids?
(d) [1/2 point] Write the equation relating capacitance to the level of liquid from (c).
(e) [1 point] With a help of a figure describe capacitive occupancy measuremnt.
(f) [1/2 point] What is the main physical principle on which the RTDs (Resistance Thermometers) rely
on?
(g) [1/2 point] State the Faraday’s law of induction.
7. Filters:
(a) [1 point] Explain how is aliasing in sampling avoided by applying analog filters on continuous
signals.
(b) [1 point] State one advantage and one disadvantage of Butterworth filters compared to other analog
filters.
8. Instruments:
(a) [2 points] With a help of a figure, explain the hysteresis effect.
(b) [1 point] What is the difference between static and dynamic characteristics of instruments?
(c) An unmanned submarine is equipped with temperature and depth measuring instruments and has
radio equipment that can transmit the output readings of these instruments back to the surface. The
submarine is initially floating on the surface of the sea with the instrument output readings in steady
state. The depth measuring instrument is approximately zero order and the temperature transducer
first order with a time constant of 50 s and static sensitivity of 1 s. The water temperature on the
sea surface, T0 , is 20 ◦ C and the temperature Tx at a depth of x meters is given by the relation:
Tx = T0 − 0.01x
i. [3 points] If the submarine starts diving at time zero, and thereafter goes down at a velocity
of 0.5 m/s, express the temperature reading from the instrument as the function of time.
ii. [1 point] What temperature does the submarine report at a depth of 1000 m and what is the
error of that measurement?
iii. [1 point] What is causing the error in temperature reading?
9. Electrical measurements:
(a) For the Voltmeter-Ammeter method (also known as U-I method) for measuring resistance:
i. [1 point] Describe the general idea of the method.
ii. [2 points] With a help of a figure describe how the method is used for measuring small resis-
tances and how it is used for measuring big resistances.
(b) A null-type bridge is used to accurately measure the resistance of a platinum resistance thermometer
during a calibration procedure. The circuit shown in Figure 3 is used, in which the known fixed
resistance values are given by R2 = 98.3Ω and R3 = 102.2Ω. The thermometer is inserted in the
circuit as Ru and then the variable resistance box Rv is adjusted until the bridge output voltage V0
goes to zero. At this balance point, the value of Rv is 95.7Ω.
(a) [1 point] What is the name of the bridge?
(b) [1 point] How much is the current Im at the balance point?
(c) [2 points] Calculate the resistance of the thermometer.

Page 4
Figure 3: Circuit for the task 9.b.

Page 5