What is Measuring: Definition and 1000 Discussions

Measurement is the quantification of attributes of an object or event, which can be used to compare with other objects or events. The scope and application of measurement are dependent on the context and discipline. In natural sciences and engineering, measurements do not apply to nominal properties of objects or events, which is consistent with the guidelines of the International vocabulary of metrology published by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. However, in other fields such as statistics as well as the social and behavioural sciences, measurements can have multiple levels, which would include nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio scales.Measurement is a cornerstone of trade, science, technology and quantitative research in many disciplines. Historically, many measurement systems existed for the varied fields of human existence to facilitate comparisons in these fields. Often these were achieved by local agreements between trading partners or collaborators. Since the 18th century, developments progressed towards unifying, widely accepted standards that resulted in the modern International System of Units (SI). This system reduces all physical measurements to a mathematical combination of seven base units. The science of measurement is pursued in the field of metrology.

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  1. A

    Measuring Torque Without Torsion Dynamometer

    1. Homework Statement hi i need to perform the experiment described in this link http://www.phywe.com/index.php/fuseaction/download/lrn_file/versuchsanleitungen/P2430400/e/P2430400.pdf so i need to measure the torque in the experiment they use Torsion dynamometer to do the job but i need to...
  2. M

    Measuring Torque: Ideas & Solutions for Lab Projects

    Hello everyone. I'm working on a physics lab project and I've reached a barrier. I need to measure the torque on a closed loop in a magetic field and I can't reach a way to do so. Of course, excluding all the torque measuring devices and such which I believe we don't have at the lab. Any ideas...
  3. U

    Measuring Velocity based on change in Pressure

    Homework Statement There is an air-tight 1L Canister filled with 90% water and 10% N2O. This canister is attached to some clear tubing which is not entirely air-tight. At the end of this tubing are some tungsten particles averaging ~1µm in diameter with total mass of 60mg. The contraption is...
  4. T

    Creating a Quantum Circuit for Measuring X⊗Z, Z⊗X, & Y⊗Y Simultaneously

    I'm trying to create a quantum circuit which does the following very simple thing: Alice has two qubits, and she wants to measure the observables: X⊗Z, Z⊗X, and Y⊗Y, each taking values in {-1,1}. Note that this is a commuting set of observables, so it should be possible to measure all three...
  5. T

    About the effects of relativity when measuring the age of the universe

    Ever since Einstein showed us that time is relative, and that there is no such thing as independent time but a space-time fabric, and since we’ve got experimental results about the dilatation effect that speed and gravity/acceleration have on time: Is it OK to say that the universe started 13,79...
  6. D

    Optimizing Impedance Measurement: Bridge vs. Sine Wave Generator Method?

    Why don't we just connect a sine wave generator in series with a DMM and the coil, set the amplitude Δv0 to a given value on a scope, measure the RMS current I on the DMM and use Z = 0.707Δv0/I?
  7. lep11

    Measuring the depth of a lake using a bottle

    Homework Statement To measure the depth of a lake, an empty bottle (V=1dm^3) is lowered to the bottom of the freshwater lake. There is a weight attached to the bottom of the bottle to keep it upright. When the bottle is recovered it is filled with 0,58dm^3 of water. Determine the depth of the...
  8. K

    Why does measuring the position of a particle change its momentum?

    Why does measuring the position of a particle change its momentum? Is it because 'measuring' involves shooting EM waves or other particles at the particle, which changes its momentum?
  9. S

    Measuring Motor Rotation with a Desktop Computer

    Hello all, A bit of background. We are communicating with a microcontroller through a desktop computer. The desktop computer controls direction of rotation of the motor, and it can prompt a step in the motor causing a rotation. However, what can I do in terms of feedback? I have not taken...
  10. D

    Measuring the Wavelength of Light

    How to measure of wavelength of light source?
  11. G

    Measuring Light Frequency: Does Newton's Law Apply?

    Can anyone tell me if the following is correct? Traveling directly towards a source of light at some constant speed, we will measure its frequency to be higher (compared to rest frequency) than what we would expect when using Newton’s laws. Just as traveling away from the source, we would...
  12. M

    Measuring Torque from a Servo

    Homework Statement Hi guys, I am attempting to experimentally measure torque from two rods connected to a servo. Let's say rod A stays fixed, and the servo, mounted at the end of rod A (at joint J) moves rod B to a certain angle θ with a velocity v. In addition to velocity and angle, I also...
  13. N

    Measuring voltage and capacitance of capacitors in parallel? how do?

    im hooking up 6 450v 10000uf capacitors in parallel for an exparement for school (under supervision of my professor) he won't tell me how to monitor these devices and how to know when they are full and when to release them. does anyone think they could give me a quick and dirty answer?
  14. TumblingDice

    Measuring Cosmic Rays: There's an App for that

    A group of researchers from the University of California has published a paper regarding the viability of detecting cosmic rays using an array of 'SmartPhones'. I've read before that the digital sensors (photomultipliers?) in most cameras and cell phones detect infrared and, by design, this is...
  15. G

    Measuring Acceleration of Falling Object: Mark Symbol?

    I used a ticker to measure to measure the acceleration of falling object. And and now I am writing report about it and the problem is what symbol is used for the marks on the ticker tape? Like for grams (g). What would you use for marks(?) ?
  16. M

    Measuring varied power per revolution of a bicycle crank/chainring

    A bicyclist applies varied force and velocity on their pedals as it goes around one revolution. The power distribution over one revolution is like two waves with the higher power being made on the downstrokes. The push through the bottom/top produces the lowest power. The question is does...
  17. D

    Measuring refractive index of water

    Does anyone know any good experimental techniques of measuring refractive index of water?
  18. J

    Measuring Unsigned Simple Functions

    Homework Statement I was hoping that someone would be able to help me solve this problem regarding simple functions and their measure. This problem is coming straight from *Introduction to Measure Theory* by Terrence Tao. A link to the free version is attached at the end of this post. Show...
  19. I_am_learning

    Finding a Precise Scale for Measuring Human Body Weight Fluctuations

    I was lately interested in learning how the human body weight changes through out the day. Like, how much weight (may be in just 10s of grams) is lost during sleeping, after bathing, after workout and like that. For that I would require a highly precise scale. But most commercially available...
  20. J

    Questioning the GDP Deflator: Measuring Average Price Output?

    I would like to raise a question about GDP deflator. In my macroeconomics textbook, there is a statement like this: "GDP deflator gives the average price of output". I wonder why the deflator will give the average price as it only measure the ratio between nominal GDP and real GDP... Thanks for...
  21. L

    Measuring the size the universe

    I’m learning about cosmology and I’m struggling understanding the size and shape of the universe. If the universe has a radius of approximately ~46 billion light years, then the maximum distance between any two points in the universe today is ~92 light years. It follows then, that if I am...
  22. P

    Measuring the internal pressure of a sealed container

    hey everyone, I am a chemistry student and i am currently working on my final year project, which is to find a chemical difference between canned and bottled coke. one of the aspects I am looking at is CO2 content, so i need a way of measuring the quantity of CO2 in a container. ideally i want...
  23. A

    How Do You Convert CO2 PPMV in Air to PPMW in Water?

    Measuring CO2 I have been searching for an answer to this for quite a while, so I'm hoping somebody here can help me out. I've spent quite a bit of time digging and reading, and I've found plenty of information, but I'm not always sure what to make of it. I am working on making myself a small...
  24. T

    Ideas for sensors measuring the elbow angle

    Hello there! I'm working for about 2 months to build a system for getting digitally values about the angle of the elbow. The project is designated to create a large usage tool and that's why it's preferably to use mechanical staff that are comfortable for the 'user' and to not look very...
  25. Philosophaie

    Measuring the current Longitude and Latitude of your current position

    Is there such a electronic device that measures the current Longitude and Latitude of your current position on the Earth?
  26. R

    Measuring polarization of a neutral object near a charged sphere

    Hello, I am trying to design an experiment where I can calculate the distance at which polarization will not have a measurable effect on a neutral object, from a sphere charged by a Van Der Graaf generator. I am measuring the weight change caused by the polarization of the neutral object with...
  27. G

    Measuring Viscosity of Materials with Dynamic Modulus

    I understand that the dynamic modulus of a material is measured by inducing a sinusoidal force and measuring the strain response. Usually one gets a value for the storage and loss modulus. However, I don't understand how one would "quantify" how viscous a material is. I know a viscous material...
  28. M

    Probability of measuring a specific value in a spin-1/2 system

    Homework Statement A spin-1/2 system in the state \left|ψ\right\rangle = \left|0.5, z\right\rangle of the S_{z} spin operator has eigenvalue s = +\hbar/2. Find the expectation values of the S_{z} and S_{x} operators. Homework Equations \left\langle S_{x,z}\right\rangle = \left\langle ψ...
  29. G

    Measuring energy capture of river turbine

    I understand that work done if we have (510,000 Kg or 5,000,000 N) of water falling 30 meters (like in a dam) would just be 5,000,000N * 30m= 150,000,000 Newton meters. But how would one measure the work captured by a turbine for a river that say travels 50km/h. I guess assuming the same mass...
  30. H

    Measuring current with o'scope using shunt resistor?

    I am having a hard time understanding how to measure current safely in the following circuit. The circuit consists of an isolated step up transformer. 50V 1kHz pulsed dc on the primary and 500V 1kHz pulsed dc on the secondary @ 10mA max. I am wanting to measure current on the secondary side of...
  31. chakr

    Measuring Power Factor in AC Circuits

    How can one measure power factor in AC circuit? http://www.cnktechlabs.com/index_files/cnkdevelopmentkit.htm
  32. W

    Measuring the electron mobility of a molecule

    Hello PF Let's say I have a device with three layers, A, B, and C, where layers A and C are the anode and cathode. I can measure the IV curves from that device easily. Now let's say I added a fourth layer, D, in between A and B. Layer D interacts with layer B such that it increases it's...
  33. A

    Measuring the focal length of a deformable lens

    Hello all, My lab recently purchased a deformable lens, which can change its focal length from 140 mm to 40 mm and anywhere in between, based on current applied to it. I'm wondering how to use a beam profiling camera to measure the focal length of this lens at various current levels. We...
  34. marellasunny

    Catia, measuring just the horizontal distance in side view

    In CATIA V5R19, when I switch to the side view, how do I measure just the horizontal distance between 2 points that are not exactly in the same horizontal plane? When I use the tool 'Measure distance between' , I get a inclined measurement line which is exactly what I do not want. How do I...
  35. seb7

    Is the speed of light truly constant in all directions?

    Something that's been bugging me, but unable to find an answer for.. The speed of light (in a vacuum) is absolute, well not really, its relative to the space/time its in. ie. The distant galaxies are moving away from us, but their local light speed is relative to their space/time. So since...
  36. BiGyElLoWhAt

    A question about measuring time via the speed of light

    Let us have an observer moving at some velocity v. And let our observer have 2 mirrors, one on either side of their vehicle, that they will use to measure time. In this situation, our observer is using a single photon (or ray, it really doesn't matter) to measure time. A ray of light...
  37. H

    Measuring the emissivity of a surface

    Hi Fellas, Need your help to solve a practical problem I've been facing. I run a company that makes products for foundries. Recently, we started work on developing a high temperature, high emissivity ceramic coating to paint the inside walls of a furnace. The motive behind the particular...
  38. dlgoff

    Beauty of old electrical and measuring things, etc.

    Even as a kid, I saw beauty in old devices. That made me want to understand how they worked. I had lots of old things that I keep and now reviving. Old things need to work to see the beauty. Here's what I've done so far. Two views of the gadgets shelves and my small work space...
  39. S

    Measuring Infrared Irradiance for Solar Research

    I'm working on research into the feasibility of separating out the infrared rays above 1200 nm in sunlight for solar power generation. Since silicon cells do not effectively harness these wavelengths, we are experimenting with using interference coatings and a wave guide to separate these waves...
  40. Steven Ellet

    Can Static Electricity be Measured and How Dangerous Can it Be?

    How do I measure static electricity or is it even possible?
  41. varunika

    Measuring Liquid Flow: Steady or Not?

    how can we know whether the flow of liquid is steady or not from its velocity?
  42. T

    Measuring MVARs in the Field: EMS Systems Explained

    How are MVARs actually measured in the field? How do EMS systems know the difference between MW and MVARS as opposed to an absolute value of MVA? Thanks!
  43. C

    Volumetric measuring equation?

    I'm looking for a set of equation(s) to solve the following problem: Given 5 mg of a substance dissolved in 30 ml of liquid, how much of the substance will be present in 1 drop of water of the solution? Given one drop of water is equal to 0.050 ml. Thank you. This is not homework, just a...
  44. S

    Pointer Momentum of a Measuring Apparatus

    I am writing a paper on the problem of measurement and I am stuck on what the pointer momentum corresponds to physically. The coupling of the pointer momentum with the observable being measured is used to define the interaction Hamiltonian between the measuring apparatus and the system being...
  45. J

    Measuring voltage with the arduino

    Hi, I would like to record a voltage on a ardruino pin A0 using the 3.3V from the arduino. I connect the 3.3V to one part and the A0 to another part. I want to know when there's contact between the two parts (resulting in 3.3V on pin A0) and when there's no contact (resulting in 0V on pin A0)...
  46. Y

    Why Is Electric Charge Measured in Coulombs Instead of Newtons?

    The electric charge is measured in Coulombs. 1 Coulomb is defined as "the charge of approximately 6.241×10^18 electrons" by wikipedia. When I look up the charge of one electron, I get: 1.60217657 × 10^-19 coulombs I'm confused by the fact that electronic charge is defined in terms of...
  47. C

    Measuring One-Way Speed of Light

    Hey all, first I just want to say that I am by no means a physicist - just someone that is very interested in physics, and I have very little understanding of physics, but I am trying to learn. I've been reading this article about anisotropic synchrony convention which mentions that we cannot...
  48. C

    Is there a law which prohibits measuring En of a non-stationary state

    Hey. Trying to wrap my head around this maths. And given that the wave function is a superposition of a bunch of stationary states, each with a different coefficient. The coefficients squared added add to one. And the probability of finding the particle in a given state is cn^2. I know all...
  49. Drakkith

    Measuring Oxygen Content of the Ancient Earth

    I read that the level of oxygen in the atmosphere reached its highest concentration during the Carboniferous period, with over 32% of the atmosphere by volume as O2. I was wondering, how is this measured? The reference on wiki only links to a graph with no other content. Thanks.
  50. S

    MATLAB Measuring the 'purity' of a sine wave using FFT (Matlab)

    I have a range of sine waves I have obtained in an experiment. I want to put a measure on the purity of these sine waves - how well the reproduce a theoretical sine wave. Is there anyway I can analyse the FFT of the sine waves in Matlab and put a measure on the purity of the sine wave...
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