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Introduction to Physical Measurement

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Course Unit Code480-2012/01
Number of ECTS Credits Allocated2 ECTS credits
Type of Course Unit *Compulsory
Level of Course Unit *First Cycle
Year of Study *First Year
Semester when the Course Unit is deliveredWinter Semester
Mode of DeliveryFace-to-face
Language of InstructionCzech
Prerequisites and Co-Requisites There are no prerequisites or co-requisites for this course unit
Name of Lecturer(s)Personal IDName
HRA01Mgr. Ing. Kamila Hrabovská, Ph.D.
Summary
The subject is an introductory course for laboratory exercises in physics I, II, III, and IV. The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the basics of experimental work in physics and evaluation of measured values using measurement uncertainty. The theoretical knowledge obtained is based on simple measurements of selected physical quantities.
Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit
Explain the mathematical statistics methods for calculation of measurement uncertainty.
Interpret the calculating methods of standard measurement uncertainty.
Analyse the results of simple measuremets.
Course Contents
1. Labor safety in physical laboratories.
2. Theory of measurement of physical quantities: the reproducibility of the measurement results as the basis of the scientific method. Measurement as a process of comparison.
3. Measuring units - SI system of units. Calibration and certification.
4. Measurement uncertainty: the result of the measurement, the measurement error and the real value. The uncertainty of the measurement outcome. Statistical standard uncertainty (type A). Systematic standard uncertainty (type B). The combined standard uncertainty. Expanded uncertainty increases the reliability of measurement results.
5. Covariance law and Gauss' law of propagation of uncertainty in indirect measurements. Functional dependencies – the band of confidence . Rules for rounding off and numerical formulation of the measurement result. Reliability and validity of measurement results.
6. Direct measurement of parameters: length, angle,
7. Direct measurement of parameters: volume, time, weight,
8. Direct measurement of parameters: temperature, pressure, electric voltage.
9. Scheme of the experiment: experimental design. General formats of graphs of physical dependencies. Realization of the experiment.
10. The record of direct measurements - data table format. Evaluation and analysis of experimental results. Publication of the results of an experiment (necessary components of a laboratory report). Sample laboratory report.
11. Practical exercise: measurement of density metal roller by definition method.
12. Practical exercise: measurement of inertia moment of metal roller by definition method.
13. Practical exercise: measurement of the VA characteristic of the selected non-linear element.
14. Practical exercise: measurement of the dynamic viscosity of a liquid with a Stokes viscometer
Recommended or Required Reading
Required Reading:
TAYLOR, J., R.: An Introduction to Error Analysis: The Study of Uncertainties in Physical Measurements University Science Books; 2nd edition 1996.


DVORSKÝ, Richard a Jaroslav FOUKAL. Fyzikální měření. Ostrava: Vysoká škola báňská - Technická univerzita Ostrava, 2007. ISBN 978-80-248-1312-7.
KOPEČNÝ, Jan, Vilém MÁDR, Jaromír PIŠTORA, Alois FOJTEK a Jaroslav FOUKAL. Fyzikální měření. 2. vyd. Ostrava: VŠB - Technická univerzita Ostrava, 2007. ISBN 978-80-248-1653-1.
Normy ČSN ISO
TAYLOR, J., R.: An Introduction to Error Analysis: The Study of Uncertainties in Physical Measurements University Science Books; 2nd edition 1996.

Recommended Reading:
FORNASINI, Paolo. The Uncertainty in Physical Measurements: An Introduction to Data Analysis in the Physics Laboratory, Springer; 2008. ISBN 978-0387786490


MÁDR, Vilém. Fyzikální měření. Praha: SNTL - Nakladatelství technické literatury, 1991. ISBN 80-03-00266-4.
BROŽ, Jaromír. Základy fyzikálních měření. I. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1983.
Fornasini Paolo. The Uncertainty in Physical Measurements: An Introduction to Data Analysis in the Physics Laboratory, Springer; 2008. ISBN 978-0387786490
Data Analysis in the Physics Laboratory, Springer; 2008. ISBN 978-0387786490


Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures, Tutorials, Experimental work in labs
Assesment methods and criteria
Task TitleTask TypeMaximum Number of Points
(Act. for Subtasks)
Minimum Number of Points for Task Passing
Graded creditGraded credit100 51