Intro to Metrology

NCSL INTERNATIONALNCSL INTERNATIONALSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENTSERVING THE WORLD OF MEASUREMENT

MetrologyMetrologyThe Science of MeasurementThe Science of Measurement

164 Education Liaison & Outreach164 Education Liaison & Outreach


Let’s take a trip back in time…Let’s take a trip back in time…


Prehistoric peoplePrehistoric people didn’t have time to measuredidn’t have time to measure


But over time….But over time….


people started growing foodpeople started growing food


and developing permanent settlementsand developing permanent settlements


So, they needed a system of So, they needed a system of measurement…measurement…


or there would be mayhem!or there would be mayhem!


History of MeasurementHistory of Measurement


Egyptian CubitEgyptian Cubit

Used to build pyramidsUsed to build pyramids Dependent on the pharaohDependent on the pharaoh Missed calibration was Missed calibration was

punishable by death!punishable by death!


Fast-forward 5000 years to Fast-forward 5000 years to current measurement systemscurrent measurement systems


Metric System (SI)Metric System (SI)

MassMass Kilogram Kilogram (kg)(kg)

LengthLength Meter (m)Meter (m)

TimeTime Second (s)Second (s)

TemperatureTemperature Kelvin (K) Kelvin (K)

Electric CurrentElectric CurrentAmpere (A)Ampere (A)

Amount of SubstanceAmount of SubstanceMole (mol)Mole (mol)

Luminous IntensityLuminous Intensity Candela (cd)Candela (cd)

International International System System

of Measurementof Measurement

SEVEN BASE UNITSSEVEN BASE UNITS


Simple to useSimple to use• Bases of tenBases of ten

All other units derived from primary sevenAll other units derived from primary seven• For example: V = cmFor example: V = cm33 = 1 mL = 1 mL

Metric System (SI)Metric System (SI)


Now, a couple of definitions…Now, a couple of definitions…


““the science that deals with measurement” the science that deals with measurement”

““to determine the dimension, quantity or to determine the dimension, quantity or capacity of something”capacity of something”

MeasureMeasure

MetrologyMetrology


Metrology ConceptsMetrology Concepts

Uncertainty Uncertainty • Value assigned to a measurement result that Value assigned to a measurement result that

characterizes how well it is known/unknowncharacterizes how well it is known/unknown

Measurement Result Potential Value



TraceabilityTraceability• Unbroken chain of comparisons to the SI units, all Unbroken chain of comparisons to the SI units, all

having stated uncertaintieshaving stated uncertainties

NMI

You, the Consumer

Inaccurate Measurements



CalibrationCalibration• Set of operations that establish the relationship Set of operations that establish the relationship

between values of quantities indicated by a between values of quantities indicated by a measuring instrument and a reference standardmeasuring instrument and a reference standard


MetrologistMetrologist Designs and runs Designs and runs

measurement calibrations & measurement calibrations & teststests

Analyzes the results Analyzes the results Determines the final accuracy Determines the final accuracy

of the device under testof the device under test

Calibration Calibration EngineerEngineer

Calibration Calibration TechnicianTechnician

MetrologistMetrologist


Metrology CareersMetrology Careers

Scientific MetrologyScientific Metrology • Organization and development of measurement Organization and development of measurement

standards and their maintenance (highest level)standards and their maintenance (highest level)

NIST Atomic Clock

Accurate to 1 s in 20 million years



Industrial MetrologyIndustrial Metrology • Adequate functioning of measurement instruments Adequate functioning of measurement instruments

used in industry as well as production and testing used in industry as well as production and testing processesprocesses



Legal MetrologyLegal Metrology • Measurements that influence economic Measurements that influence economic

transactions, health and safetytransactions, health and safety


Who Needs Who Needs Accurate Measurements?Accurate Measurements?


Pharmaceutical IndustryPharmaceutical Industry

Metrology laboratories test Metrology laboratories test weights and volume standards weights and volume standards for pharmaceutical companiesfor pharmaceutical companies

Products include medicines like Products include medicines like aspirin, antibiotics, vaccines, aspirin, antibiotics, vaccines, insulin, & vitaminsinsulin, & vitamins


Defense IndustryDefense Industry

Metrology laboratories test Metrology laboratories test standards for many military standards for many military and defense companiesand defense companies

These companies make the These companies make the guidance systems for the guidance systems for the Patriot missiles and other Patriot missiles and other things that arethings that are top secret


Space Station, Satellites….Space Station, Satellites….

Metrology laboratories test Metrology laboratories test standards for many companies standards for many companies that provide parts of the space that provide parts of the space shuttleshuttle

These parts include the metal, These parts include the metal, heat shield, electronics, fabrics, heat shield, electronics, fabrics, o-rings, optics, and tireso-rings, optics, and tires


Retail MeasurementsRetail Measurements

State metrology laboratories State metrology laboratories test standards used to test test standards used to test retail scales and metersretail scales and meters

These include gas pumps, These include gas pumps, produce scales, milk, bread produce scales, milk, bread and other packaged items, and other packaged items, and price scanning systemsand price scanning systems


Weights and Measures Weights and Measures measurements measurements

affect more than $6.6 affect more than $6.6 trillion of the $13.2 trillion of the $13.2

trillion trillion U.S. GDP (1996)U.S. GDP (1996)

Who Needs Accurate Who Needs Accurate Measurements?Measurements? Everybody!Everybody!


Interested in Metrology?Interested in Metrology?

Academic SubjectsAcademic Subjects

Physical SciencePhysical SciencePhysicsPhysicsMaterial PropertiesMaterial Properties

MathMathFormulaFormulaStatistical AnalysisStatistical Analysis

Computer ScienceComputer ScienceAutomation Automation Programming Programming Database BuildingDatabase Building

Writing SkillsWriting SkillsTechnical WritingTechnical WritingManagement Management SystemsSystems


Interested in Metrology?Interested in Metrology?

Academic SubjectsAcademic Subjects

Physical SciencePhysical SciencePhysicsPhysicsMaterial PropertiesMaterial Properties

MathMathFormulaFormulaStatistical AnalysisStatistical Analysis

Computer ScienceComputer ScienceAutomation Automation Programming Programming Database BuildingDatabase Building

Writing SkillsWriting SkillsTechnical WritingTechnical WritingManagement Management SystemsSystems

““Metrology community is Metrology community is facing a shortage of facing a shortage of

qualified, trained qualified, trained metrology personnel metrology personnel

across the U.S.” across the U.S.”


For More InformationFor More Information

NCSL International (NCSLI)NCSL International (NCSLI)

www.ncsli.orgwww.ncsli.org

Special Thanks to FreeFoto.com, www.sxc.hu

Developed byNCSLI Committee 164


Special Thanks to Special Thanks to

FreeFoto.com, FreeFoto.com, www.sxc.huwww.sxc.hu, , Microsoft Office ClipartMicrosoft Office Clipart

Presentation Developed byPresentation Developed byNCSLI Committee 164NCSLI Committee 164


Questions, Comments, Questions, Comments, Suggestions?Suggestions?

Intro to Metrology

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