Introduction
A Measuring Device or a Measuring Instrument is a device for measuring a quantity. Measuring Devices are used in different sciences and in everyday life for obtaining measurements and comparing measurements. Example: An Accelerometer is a device that measures proper acceleration. An Altimeter or an altitude meter is an instrument used to measure the altitude of an object above a fixed level. The article Measuring Devices & Usage presents the list of important Measuring Devices & Usage in different Scientific Fields.
Devices
Measuring Devices are simply the instruments used for determining various quantities such as temperature, mass, height, length, voltage, mechanical force, pressure etc.
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Accelerometer | Physical, accelerations |
| Actinometer | Heating power of sunlight |
| Alcoholmeter | Alcoholic strength of liquids |
| Altimeter | Altitudes |
| Ammeter | Electric current |
| Anemometer | Windspeed |
| Audiometer | Hearing |
| Astrolabe | latitude and altitude of celestial bodies |
| Accumulator | Electrical energy is stored |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Barkometer | Tanning liquors used in tanning leather |
| Barometer | Air pressure |
| Bettsometer | Integrity of fabric coverings on aircraft |
| Bevameter | Mechanical properties of soil |
| Bolometer | Electromagnetic radiation |
| Breathalyzer | Breath alcohol content |
| Brannock Device | Measuring shoe size |
| Binocular | It is used to view distant objects |
| Barograph | Continuous recording of atmospheric pressure |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Chronometer | Time |
| Caliper | Distance |
| Calorimeter | Heat of chemical reactions |
| Cathetometer | Vertical distances |
| Ceilometer | Height of a cloud base |
| Clap-O-Meter | Volume of applause |
| Colorimeter | Color |
| Creepmeter | Slow surface displacement of an active geologic fault in the earth |
| Compass | Direction of North |
| Cardiogram | It traces movements of the heat, recorded on a cardiograph |
| Commutator | An instrument to change or remove the direction of an electric current, in dynamo used to convert alternating current into direct current |
| Callipers | Measures diameters of thin cylinder/wire. |
| Carburettor | Used for charging air with petrol vapours in an internal combustion engine. |
| Cinematograph | Used for projecting pictures on the screen |
| Crescograph | Used for measuring growth in plants |
| Cryometer | Measurement of low temperature |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Declinometer | Magnetic declination |
| Densimeter | Specific gravity of liquids |
| Densitometer | Degree of darkness in photographic or semitransparent material |
| Diffractometer | Structure of crystals |
| Dilatometer | Volume changes caused by a physical or chemical process |
| Disdrometer | Size, speed, and velocity of raindrops |
| Dosimeter | Exposure to hazards, especially radiation |
| Dumpy Level | Horizontal levels |
| Dynamometer | Force, torque or power |
| Dynamo | It converts mechanical energy into electrical energy |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Elaeometer | Specific gravity of oils |
| Electronic Stand | Mass |
| Electricity Meter | Electrical energy used |
| Electrometer | Electric charge |
| Electronic Tuner | Pitch of musical notes |
| Ellipsometer | Refractive index, dielectric function, thickness of thin films |
| Eudiometer | Change in volume of a gas mixture following combustion |
| Evaporimeter | Rate of evaporation |
| Electroscope | It detects presence of an electric charge |
| Endoscope | It examines internal parts of the body |
| Electroencephalograph | Electrical activity of the brain |
| Electrocardiograph | Electrical activity of the heart |
| Electron microscope | Used to obtain a magnifying view of very small objects (20,000 times) |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Fathometer | Ocean depth |
| Feeler Gauge | Gap widths |
| Framing Square | Right angles in construction |
| Frequency Counter | Frequency of alternating current |
| Fuel Gauge | Fuel level |
| Forward looking infrared (FLIR) | Detects infrared energy (heat) converts it into an electronic signal, which is then processed to produce a thermal image on a video monitor and perform temperature calculations. |
| Fluxmeter | Measures magnetic flux |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Galvanometer | Electricity |
| Gas Pycnometer | Volume and density of solids |
| Glucometer | Blood glucose (diabetes) |
| Graphometer | Angles |
| Geiger counter | Ionizing radiation (alpha, beta, gamma, etc.) |
| Gramophone | Used to reproducing recorded sound |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Heliometer | Variation of the sun’s diameter |
| Hydrometer | Specific gravity of liquids (density of liquids) |
| Hygrometer | Humidity |
| Hydrophone | It measures the sound under water |
| Hygroscope | Shows the changes in atmospheric humidity |
| Hypsometer | Determines boiling point of liquids |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Inclinometer | Angle of a slope |
| Inkometer | Ink |
| Interferometer | Wave interference |
| Infrared thermometer | Measures heat radiated |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Katharometer | Composition of gases |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Lactometer | Specific gravity of milk |
| Light Meter | Light (in photography) |
| Load Cell | Measurement of force |
| Lux Meter | Intensity of light |
| Lysimeter | Balance of water in soil |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Magnetometer | Strength of magnetic fields |
| Manometer | Pressure of gas |
| Mass Flow Meter | Mass flow rate of a fluid travelling through a tube |
| Mass Spectrometer | Masses of ions, used to identify chemical substances through their mass spectra |
| Measuring Cup | Liquid and dry goods |
| Measuring Spoon | A spoon used to measure an amount of an ingredient, either liquid or dry |
| Mercury Barometer | Atmospheric pressure |
| Micrometer | Small distances |
| Multimeter | Electrical potential, resistance, and current |
| Mariner's compass | It is an instrument used by the sailors to determine the direction |
| Microphone | It converts the sound waves into electrical vibrations |
| Microscope | It is used to obtain magnified view of small objects |
| Machmeter | Determines the speed of an aircraft relative to the speed of sound |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Nephoscope | To measure the speed and direction of clouds |
| Nephelometer | Particle in a liquid |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Odometer | Distance travelled |
| Ohmmeter | Electrical resistance |
| Orchidometer | Testicle size in male humans |
| Oscilloscope | Oscillations |
| Osmometer | Osmotic strength of a solution, colloid, or compound matter of an object |
| Ondometer | Measures the frequency of electromagnetic waves (radio waves) |
| Optometer | Used for testing the refractive power of the eye |
| Otoscope | Used for visual examination of the eardrum |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Parking Meter | Collects moneys for vehicle parking rights in a zone for a limited time |
| Pedometer | Counts each steps you have walked and displays them again along with the number of calories that you have burned |
| Ph Meter | Ph (chemical acidity/basicity of a solution) |
| Photometer | Illuminance or irradiance |
| Polarimeter | Rotation of polarized light |
| Potentiometer | Voltage (term is also used to refer to a variable resistor) |
| Profilometer | Surface roughness |
| Protractor | Angles |
| Psychrometer | Humidity |
| Pycnometer | Fluid density |
| Pyranometer | Solar radiation |
| Pyrheliometer | Direct solar insolation |
| Pyrometer | High temperatures |
| Planimeter | area |
| Phonograph | It is an instrument for producing sound |
| Periscope | It is used to view objects above sea level (used in sub-marines) |
| Plastometer | Flow properties of plastic materials |
| Polarimetry | Polarization of transverse waves, electromagnetic waves |
| Polygraph | It simultaneously records changed in physiological processes such as heartbeat, blood pressure & the respiration (used as lie detector) |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Quadrat | Percentage cover of a certain species |
| Quartz Crystal Microbalance | Thickness of deposited thin films |
| Quartz Clock | A highly accurate clock used in astronomical observations and other precision work |
| Quadrant | Measures altitudes and angles in navigation and astronomy |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Rain Gauge | Measuring of rain |
| Radiometer | Radiant flux of electromagnetic radiation |
| Refractometer | Sugar concentration of sap and syrup |
| Rheometer | Response to applied forces |
| Rotameter | Pressure of a liquid or gas in a closed tube |
| Ruler | For measuring length |
| Radar | It is used for detecting the direction and range of an approaching plan by means of radio microwaves |
| Radio Micrometer | It measures the emission of radiant energy |
| Rectifier | An instrument used for the conversion of AC into DC |
| Resistance Thermometer | Used for determining the electrical resistance of conductors |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Saccharometer | Amount of sugar in a solution |
| Seismometer | Seismic waves (for example, earthquakes) |
| Sextant | Location on earth’s surface (used in naval navigation) |
| Spectrometer | Properties of light |
| Spectrophotometer | Intensity of light as a function of wavelength |
| Speedometer | Speed, velocity of a vehicle |
| Spirometer | The lung capacity |
| Spherometer | Radius of a sphere |
| Sphygmomanometer | Blood pressure |
| Stadimeter | Object range |
| Strainmeter | Seismic strain |
| Swr Meter | Standing wave ratio |
| Seismograph | It measures the intensity of earthquake shocks |
| Salinometer | It determines salinity of solution |
| Stereoscope | It is used to view two dimensional pictures |
| Stethoscope | An instrument which is used by the doctors to hear and analyze heart and lung sounds |
| Stroboscope | It is used to view rapidly moving objects |
| Spectroscope | An instrument used for spectrum analysis |
| Sphygmophone | Instrument with the help of which, a pulse beat makes a sound |
| Spring Balance | Useful for measuring weight |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Tacheometer | Distance |
| Tachometer | Revolutions per minute, rate of blood flow, speed of aeroplanes |
| Taximeter | Distance travelled, displacement |
| Tensiometer | Surface tension of a liquid |
| Theodolite | Measuring angles in the horizontal and vertical planes |
| Thermometer | Temperature |
| Tintometer | Colour |
| Tiltmeter | Minor changes to the Earth |
| Telescope | It views distant objects in space |
| Thermostat | It regulates the temperature at a particular point |
| Teleprinter | This instrument receives and sends typed messages from one place to another |
| Transistor | A small device which may be used to amplify currents and perform other functions usually performed by a thermionic valve |
| Tangent galvanometer | Measure the amount of direct current (DC) |
| Telemeter | Records physical happenings at a distant place (space) |
| Tonometer | Measures the pitch of a sound |
| Transformer | An apparatus used for converting high voltage to low and vice-versa without change in its frequency. |
| Transponder | To receive a signal and transmit a reply immediately in satellites. |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Universal Measuring Machine | Geometric locations |
| UV Meter | Ultraviolet light |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Vacuum Gauge | Very low pressure |
| Viscometer | Viscosity of a fluid |
| Voltmeter | Electric potential, voltage |
| VU Meter | Volume unit |
| Vernier | An adjustable scale for measuring small sub divisions of scale |
| Venturimeter | Measures the rate of flow of liquids |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Wattmeter | Electrical power |
| Weighing Scale | Weight |
| Wind Vane | Wind direction |
| Wavemeter | To measure the wavelength of a radiowave (high frequency waves) |
| Device | Usage |
|---|---|
| Zymometer | Fermentation |