Calibration Terms
Calibration Terms:
A-D
E-L
M-Z Aberration:
An optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens
or mirror to produce a good image.
Absolute Pressure: Actual pressure on a confined gas, irrespective of the
atmosphere on the outside.
Absolute Temperature: The
temperature measured from absolute zero as in the Kelvin and Rankine scales.
Absolute Zero: The lowest temperature
theoretically attainable (at which the kinetic energy of
atoms and molecules is minimal.
Absorption: (1) Loss
of energy traveling through a medium. (2) Internal taking up
of one material by another. (3) Transformation of radiant
energy into other forms of energy when passing through a
material substance.
Acceleration: Rate of change of
velocity.
Accommodation: Changes in focus of the
crystalline lens to adjust the eye of various object
distances.
Accuracy: (1) The closeness of agreement
between a test result and the accepted reference value (ISO
5725-1). (2) Closeness of agreement between the result of
measurement and a true value of the measurand. Accuracy is a
qualitative concept (VIM:1993)
A/D: Analog-to digital
conversion.
Adjustment (of a measuring instrument):
The operation of bringing a measuring instrument into a
state of performance suitable for its use.
Adsorption:
Adhesion of one substance to the surface of another.
Alpha: The current amplification factor when connected in a
common base configuration.
Alternating Current (AC):
Current which reverses polarity at a uniform frequency.
Altimeter: An instrument that measures the height above
ground. Ambient Temperature: Temperature of the air in
the immediate vicinity. Ammeter: A meter that measures
the flow of electrical current in amperes. Amperes:
The basic unit of electric current adopted under the Systeme
International d’Unites. Amplification: The process by
which ionization effects are magnified to a degree suitable
for their measurement. Apparent Power: The power value
obtained in an alternating current circuit by multiplying
the effective values of voltage and current. The result is
expressed in volt-amperes, and must be multiplied by the
power factor to secure the average or true power in watts.
Arc: A portion of the circumference of a circle.
Atmospheric Pressure: The force exerted on a unit area by
the weight of the atmosphere.
Auditee: The organization being audited B-H Curve: A
characteristic curve showing the relation between magnetic
induction (B) and magnetizing force (H) for a magnetic
material. It shows the manner in which the permeability of a
material varies with flux density. Backlash: A form of
mechanical hysterysis (lag) in which there is a lag between
the application of a driving force and the response of the
driven object. Barometer: An instrument that measures
atmospheric pressure. Baud Rate: A unit of measure for
data transmission speed. It represents the number of signal
elements transmitted per second. Best-Fit Straight
Line: The equation of a straight line, calculated from a set
of measurement results, which attempts to minimize the
differences between the line and the measurement results.
There is more than one statistical method used, each of
which may place the straight line in a slightly different
position with the respect to the measurement data.
Beta: The current amplification factor of a transistor when
connected in a common-emitter configuration. Bifilar
Winding: A method of winding transformers in which the wires
are placed side by side and wound together. Bimetallic
Element: Two strips of dissimilar metal bonded together so
that a change in temperature will be reflected in the
bending of the element, as a result of differential
expansion. Bleed Valve: A small valve to bleed off
small amounts of water from container vessel or bath.
Blowdown: Removal of liquids or solids from a
process/storage vessel or a line by the use of pressure.
British Thermal Unit (BTU): A unit of heat equal to the
amount of heat required to raise one pound of water one
degree Fahrenheit at one atmosphere pressure. Buffer:
A solution that maintains a set pH value regardless of added
acids or bases. Buoyancy: The power to float or rise
in a fluid. Buoyant Force: The upward force which any
fluid exerts on a body placed in it. Byte: Eight
related bits of information processed as a unit. Eight bits
equals one byte. Calibrate: Check or adjust the
graduations of a quantitative measuring instrument.
Calibration: A set of operations that establish, under
specified conditions, the relationship between the values of
quantities indicated by measuring instrument or measuring
system and the corresponding values realized by standards.
Calibration Point: One particular measurement in a
sequence of measurements aimed at providing calibration.
Capillarity: The characteristic of a liquid to be raised
or depressed in a tube of small bore. This action is caused
by a combination of cohesive, adhesive, and surface tension
forces. Cavitation: Process in which small bubbles are
formed and implode violently. This results in aggressive
cleaning action in ultrasonic cleaners. Celsius
Temperature Scale: A temperature scale based on mercury in
glass thermometer with the freezing point of water defined
at 0 degree C and the boiling point of water defined at 100
degree C, both under conditions of normal atmospheric
pressure. Center of Instrument: The intersect point of
the vertical, horizontal, and optical axis of a transit or
similar instrument when perfectly calibrated.
Certify: Provide evidence for or authorize officially.
Certified Reference Material (CRM): Reference material,
by a certificate, one or more of whose property values are
certified by a procedure which establishes its traceability
to an accurate realization of the unit in which the property
values are expressed, and for which each certified value is
accompanied by an uncertainty at a stated level of
confidence (ISO Guide 30:1992). Centripetal Force:
The
inward force on a body moving in a curved path around
another body. CGS System: The common metric system of
units (centimeter-gram-second).
Characteristic: A property that
helps to differentiate between items of a given population.
Note: The differentiation may be either quantitative (by
variables) or qualitative (by attributes).
Clinometer: An
instrument used by surveyors in order to measure an angle of
inclination or elevation. Coefficient of Linear
Expansion: The change in unit length in a solid when its
temperature is changed 1 degree. Coefficient of Volume
Expansion: The change in unit volume of a solid when its
temperature is changed 1 degree. Cohesion: The
intermolecular force that holds together the molecules in a
solid or liquid. Collimation: The process of aligning
the optical axis of optical systems to the reference
mechanical axes or surfaces of an instrument, or the
adjustment of two or more optical axes with respect to each
other. Collimator: An instrument designed to produce
collimated (parallel) rays of light usually equipped with
displacement and tilt graticules.
Comparator: An instrument for
comparing some measurement with a fixed standard.
Complex Vibration:
The combination of two or more sinusoidal vibrations
existing simultaneously. Compound: Two or more
substances combined in definite proportions by weight and
united chemically. Condensate: Steam which rises and
cools to a liquid. Conductivity: The transmission of
heat or electricity or sound.
Conformity: Fulfillment of
specified requirements.
Contacts: Elements used
to mechanically make or break an electric circuit.
Continuous Duty: A device able to operate continuously with
no off or rest period.
Contract Review: Systematic activities carried out by
the supplier before signing the contract to ensure that
requirements for quality are adequately defined, free from
ambiguity, documented, and can be realized by the supplier.
Contractor: Supplier in a contractual situation Convection: Transmission of
energy or mass in a medium by movement of the medium itself.
Conversion Chart: Must be used to convert a parts per
million reading to micromho or vice versa because the ppm
scales are non linear and the micromho scales are linear. Because of the curve, there is no set ratio so one must
refer to the chart. Correction: The value added
algebraically to the uncorrected result of a measurement to
compensate for systematic error.
Corrective Action: Action taken to eliminate the
causes of an existing nonconformity defect or other
undesirable situation in order to prevent recurrence Creep: The long term
change in dimensional characteristics of a body under load,
in an elastic force measurement device. This term refers to
the change in reading which occurs when a constant load is
applied for a period of time. Critical Angle: The
angle between and at which there is neither refraction or
internal reflection. Critical Size: For fissionable
material, the minimum amount of a material which will
support a chain reaction. Cryogenic: The science of
refrigeration pertaining to the methods for producing and
measuring very low temperatures. Damping: (1) The
prevention of free swinging or vibration by some means,
usually friction or resistance. (2) The dissipation of
energy with motion or time. Decay Time: The time
required for the trailing edge of a pulse to decrease from
90 percent to 10 percent of its maximum amplitude.
Defect: Nonfulfillment of an intended usage
requirement of reasonable expectation, including one
concerned with safety.
Degree of Documentation: Extent to which evidence is
produced to provide confidence that specified requirements
are fulfilled.
Demineralization: Removal of mineral constituents from
water. Deionization: Removal of ionized minerals and
salts from a solution by a two phase ion exchange procedure.
Density: The mass per unit volume. CGS unit: gm/cm
DI Water: Deionized water. Dial Indicator:
This is a
mechanical lever system used for amplifying small
displacements and measuring it be means of a pointer which
transverses a graduated dial. Dialysate Meter:
Verifies the total concentration of ionized salts in dialysate solutions used in hemodialysis or kidney
equipment. Differential Voltmeter: A voltmeter that
operates on the potentiometric principle. The unknown
voltage is compared to an adjustable calibrated voltage
developed within the differential voltmeter.
Differentiating Circuit: A circuit in which the output
voltage is proportional to the rate of change of the input
voltage. Diffraction: When light passes sharp edges or
goes through narrow slits the rays are deflected and produce
fringes of light and dark bands. Digital Voltmeter:
An
electronic voltmeter that gives readings in digits.
Diopter: A unit of measurement of the refractive power of a
lens which is equal to the reciprocal of the focal length
measured in meters. Direct Current (DC): A current
with a constant polarity.
Disposition of nonconformity: Action to be taken to
deal with an existing nonconforming entity in order to
resolve the nonconformity. Distortion: Any deviation
from the desired waveform. Double-Pole, Double-Throw (DPDT):
A term used to describe a switch or relay output contact
form. Two separate switches that operate simultaneously each
with a normally open and normally closed contact and a
common connector. Drift: Slow change of a metrological
characteristic of a measuring instrument. Dyne: The
unit of force which, when acting upon a mass of 1 gm, will
produce an acceleration of 1 cm/sec/sec.
Calibration Terms:
A-D
E-L
M-Z
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