Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

OR
Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google
Quizzes > Science

Metrology Quiz: Equipment Calibration Essentials

Quick, free quiz with calibration questions. Instant results and tips.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Rizki IrawanUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art tools and gauge icons arranged on a golden yellow backdrop representing a calibration quiz theme

This metrology quiz helps you practice equipment calibration and spot gaps in measurement basics before audits or exams. Work through short, real-world questions with instant feedback, then build skills with related practice like dial caliper reading practice, the accuracy and precision quiz, and our instrumentation quiz.

What is the primary purpose of instrument calibration?
Replace faulty parts in the instrument
Adjust measurement device to match a reference standard
Clean and maintain the equipment for better performance
Upgrade the instrument's software to the latest version
Calibration ensures the instrument's output aligns with a known reference standard, improving measurement reliability. It involves comparing the device under test to a more accurate reference and making necessary adjustments. Regular calibration helps maintain traceability and confidence in measurement results.
What does traceability in calibration refer to?
Logging all previous calibration dates
Linkage of measurement results through an unbroken chain to a national standard
Ensuring calibration records are stored securely
Transporting instruments under controlled conditions
Traceability means establishing an unbroken chain of comparisons back to national or international standards. Each step in the chain must have documented uncertainty, ensuring measurement results are comparable. This chain is essential for international recognition of calibration.
Which document is issued after a successful calibration?
User manual
Inspection checklist
Calibration certificate
Service report
A calibration certificate records the instrument's measurement results, calibration method, environmental conditions, and measurement uncertainties. It serves as formal proof that the device was calibrated correctly. Users rely on this document for compliance and quality assurance.
How is accuracy different from precision in measurement?
Accuracy is closeness to true value; precision is repeatability of measurements
They are the same concept expressed differently
Accuracy measures systematic error; precision measures random error
Accuracy is repeatability; precision is closeness to true value
Accuracy indicates how close a measurement is to the true or accepted value, while precision shows how consistent repeated measurements are. An instrument can be precise without being accurate if it consistently gives the same wrong result. Understanding both is critical in calibration to ensure reliable data.
Which device is commonly used as a reference for calibrating a digital multimeter's voltage range?
Function generator
Signal analyzer
Oscilloscope
DC voltage calibrator
A DC voltage calibrator provides stable, precise voltage outputs and is specifically designed for DMM calibration. It offers low drift and high accuracy over a wide range. This makes it ideal for verifying and adjusting the voltage measurement function of multimeters.
In calibration, what does measurement uncertainty represent?
Range within which the true value lies with a certain probability
Amount of instrument drift over time
Maximum possible error in a measurement
Difference between two repeated measurements
Measurement uncertainty quantifies the doubt about the measurement result by defining an interval where the true value is expected to lie with a given confidence level. It accounts for all known sources of error. International standards require reporting this uncertainty alongside results.
What defines a secondary standard in a calibration hierarchy?
A standard used only for field calibrations
A reference used exclusively for mass calibration
A standard with the lowest possible uncertainty
A standard directly calibrated by a primary standard
A secondary standard is calibrated against a primary standard and has higher uncertainty than the primary. It serves as an intermediate reference for routine calibrations. This hierarchy ensures traceability and manageable workloads for high-precision artifacts.
What are the typical environmental conditions for laboratory calibrations?
30 ± 3°C, 40 ± 15% RH
15 ± 5°C, 30 ± 20% RH
25 ± 5°C, 20 ± 20% RH
20 ± 2°C, 50 ± 10% RH
ISO/IEC 17025 specifies that calibration laboratories should maintain environmental conditions around 20 °C ± 2 °C and 50 % ± 10 % relative humidity. Stable conditions minimize measurement drift and ensure repeatability. Deviations can introduce significant errors.
What is the primary purpose of a deadweight tester in calibration?
Measure electrical resistance in pressure sensors
Calibrate temperature sensors under pressure
Generate precise pressure using known weights
Test vibration response of pressure gauges
A deadweight tester uses calibrated weights on a piston-cylinder assembly to generate precise pressures for instrument calibration. It is a primary standard for pressure, offering very low uncertainty. Technicians adjust the device under test to match the generated pressure.
Why is a least-squares fit used in instrument calibration data analysis?
To maximize the instrument's sensitivity to small signals
To average out random noise in calibration equipment
To determine the best-fit line minimizing the sum of squared errors
To standardize calibration intervals based on drift
The least-squares method finds the calibration curve that minimizes the sum of squared deviations between measured and reference values. It provides the most statistically robust fit for linear or polynomial relationships. This reduces overall calibration error and improves accuracy.
During calibration, why are zero and span adjustments performed?
To increase measurement speed during tests
To calibrate the instrument's internal memory
To update the device firmware for accuracy
To correct offset and scale errors of the instrument
Zero adjustment corrects any offset error so that the instrument reads zero at the reference zero point. Span adjustment corrects the slope, ensuring the full-scale output matches the standard. Both are essential for instrument linearity and accuracy across the range.
What causes hysteresis error in pressure gauges?
Resonance frequency of the sensing element
Electrical interference from nearby equipment
Ambient temperature fluctuations during measurement
Friction between moving parts causing different readings for increasing vs decreasing pressure
Hysteresis in mechanical pressure gauges arises from friction, wear, or material properties that cause the output to depend on whether pressure is increasing or decreasing. This leads to different readings at the same pressure value. Understanding hysteresis is key when determining gauge suitability.
What does the Welch - Satterthwaite formula calculate in the context of measurement uncertainty?
Expanded uncertainty only
Coverage factor for a given confidence level
Effective degrees of freedom of a combined uncertainty estimate
Combined standard uncertainty of multiple components
The Welch - Satterthwaite formula estimates the effective degrees of freedom in a combined uncertainty calculation, which is critical for determining the appropriate coverage factor. It accounts for the contribution of each uncertainty component to the total. This allows accurate confidence interval estimation.
For a normal distribution, what coverage factor (k) is typically used to achieve approximately 95% confidence in an expanded uncertainty calculation?
1.0
1.96
2.58
2.0
In metrology, a coverage factor of k = 2 is commonly used to obtain an expanded uncertainty that corresponds to approximately 95% confidence for normally distributed data. While 1.96 is the exact value for 95%, k = 2 simplifies reporting without significant loss of accuracy. This practice is standardized in many guidelines.
0
{"name":"What is the primary purpose of instrument calibration?", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"What is the primary purpose of instrument calibration?, What does traceability in calibration refer to?, Which document is issued after a successful calibration?","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}

Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Calibration Techniques -

    Recognize and differentiate common calibration methods used in measurement equipment quiz scenarios to ensure precision and consistency.

  2. Analyze Measurement Uncertainty -

    Assess sources of error and quantify uncertainty factors when tackling metrology trivia questions.

  3. Apply Calibration Procedures -

    Execute correct sequences for calibrating diverse devices, reinforcing best practices in calibration techniques quiz tasks.

  4. Differentiate Calibration Equipment -

    Distinguish between primary and secondary standards and select appropriate tools during the equipment calibration quiz.

  5. Troubleshoot Calibration Errors -

    Detect and resolve common issues that arise from equipment calibration questions to improve measurement reliability.

  6. Evaluate Calibration Results -

    Interpret test data and assess compliance with industry standards, ensuring reliable measurement technology performance.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Traceability and Standards -

    Understand the importance of traceability chains as outlined in ISO/IEC 17025 and NIST guidelines to ensure your readings link back to national or international standards. A clear chain of custody - often called the "paper trail" - proves your results can be reproduced anywhere in the world. Remember the mnemonic "SAT" (Standards, Accreditation, Traceability) to lock in this concept.

  2. Measurement Uncertainty Analysis -

    Master the classification of Type A (statistical) and Type B (systematic) uncertainties, and combine them via the root-sum-of-squares (RSS) formula: Uc=k·√(u₝²+u₂²+…).

    Use a coverage factor k=2 for ~95% confidence, as recommended by the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM).

  3. Calibration Curves and Linearity -

    Review the linear regression equation y=mx+b to create a calibration curve, and track R² values above 0.99 for high confidence in linearity. Inspect residual plots to catch non-linearity early - key advice from journals like Measurement Science and Technology.

    Use the "Slope-Intercept Check" method: verify slope m and zero-offset b at two spans for a quick sanity check.

  4. Environmental Factors Impact -

    Remember that temperature, humidity, and vibration can skew calibration results - keep your lab at 20 ± 1 °C and below 50% RH whenever possible, per NIST guidelines.

    Mnemonically link "TEMPer®" (TEMPerature, Pressure, Humidity) to monitor conditions continuously, so you'll never overlook a hidden offset.

  5. Preventive Maintenance Scheduling -

    Establish risk-based calibration intervals by combining manufacturer recommendations with historical drift data; ISO 10012 promotes a schedule driven by both usage and criticality.

    Apply the "CAP" rule - Calibration, Analysis, Planning - to maintain optimal instrument performance and avoid last-minute surprises during your next equipment calibration quiz.

Make a Quiz (FREE) Copy & Edit This Quiz Create a Quiz with AI

Other Sciences Quizzes

Powered by: Quiz Maker