COURSE

CODE
TUTORIAL 6
Q1.

: ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS AND MEASUREMENTS

: BEF 24002
: SENSORS AND TRANSDUCERS (PART I)

Define a transducer and distinguish between a sensor and a transducer.

Ans.
Transducer is a device that converts one form of energy into other form. Sensor is
a part of transducer, it senses and sends signal to the transduction element.

Q2. What is the basic principle of strain gauge based measurements?

Ans.
In strain gauge based measurements, the mechanical elongation/compression
is converted into the change of resistance. The end device is accordingly calibrated
to measure the input
Q3. Name materials used for wire foil guages.
Ans.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
Q4.

Nichrome
Coustantan
Nickel
Platinum

Define Poission ratio.

Ans.
The Poisson ratio is the ratio of lateral strain and longitudinal strain.

It is negative and approximate value is 0.3.

Q11.

Explain the measurement of displacement using LVDT.

Ans.
The displacement is converted into electrical voltage by LVDT, which is
proportional to the displacement of the core. This electrical voltage can be
measured by a voltmeter calibrated in terms of displacement.

Q12. What is the difference between stress and strain?

Q13. What is meant be the term gauge factor as applied to the strain gauge?
Q14. Name several possible strain gauge applications.

Q15. The wire of a strain gauge is 0.1 m long has initial resistance of 120 . On applying
force, the length of the wire increases by 0.1 mm and resistance increases by 0.
Find gauge factor.
Solution
0.1 m = 100 mm

R = 120
zR =0.2W
Gauge factor

= 1.75Ans.
Q16. A strain gauge with gauge factor of 2 is fastened to a metal and is subjected to a
stress of 1000 kg,fcm2. The Youngs modulus of the metal is 2 x 106 kg/cm2. Find
percentage change in the resistance of the strain gauge.
Sol.

Percentage change in the resistance of the strain gauge

Q17.

A thermistor has a temp. coeff. of resistance as - 0.5 for temperature range of

25C to 50C. Find the resistance of the thermistor at 40C, if its resistance at
25C is 120
Solution

Q18. A strain gauge is bonded to a steel beam of 0.l m length and 4 cm2

cross section. The modulus of beam material (steel) is 207 x 109 N/rn2. The strain
gauge has initial resistance of 240 and a gauge factor of 2.2. When a load is applied
the resistance of the strain gauge changes by 0.013 . Calculate
(i)
change in the length of the beam and
(ii)
force applied to the beam.
Sol.

Change in length. L =1.2 x 10-5 m. Ans

(ii)

Force on the beam

Q19. A thermistor has a resistance temp. coeff. of - 5% over a temperature range of 25C
to 50C. If resistance of the thermistor at 25C is 100 , Find its resistance at 35C.
Q20. Figure Q20 shows the step response for two typical platinum thick-film and
platinum wire-wound RTD sensors. From the data for temperature as a function of
time shown in the figure, determine the constants for the two RTD sensors.

Figure Q20. Step response for wire-wound and thick-film platinum RTDs
immersed in a fluid at time t = 0.