What is Calibration: Definition and 95 Discussions

In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artifact, such as a meter ruler.
The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following:

no significant error being noted on the device under test
a significant error being noted but no adjustment made
an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison and does not include any subsequent adjustment.
The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national or international standard held by a metrology body.

View More On Wikipedia.org
Recent contents Top users
  1. A

    Certification of Sound Level Meter (Not calibration)

    Hi, I would like to know if anyone knows where can I find people who do certification of Sound Level Meter (Not calibration). I need to certify my Sound Level Meter to IEC 61672. Please provide details if you know who can do it. Thank you. Best Regards, Richard
  2. L

    Calorimetry Calibration: Find qrxn, qcal, and Ccal with NaOH and HCl

    Homework Statement in the reaction 10mL of 1M NaOH + 5mL of 1M HCl (adiabatic) given change in temp=2.1°C (temp initial is the temp of NaOH, temp final is acquired after the addition of HCl) find: qrxn, qcal, Ccal Homework Equations qrxn = -qca Ccal = qcal/∆T The Attempt at a...
  3. S

    Planar Equations applied to Robotic Calibration

    Hello, We have a robot whose function is to connect to a grid of connectors on the back of an industrial frame, one at a time. The robotics can move in 3 dimensions, I call them X Y and Z, where Z engages and disengages the connector. The robotics have a software map of the relative...
  4. P

    Camera Calibration: Estimate Lens Distortion from 1 Photo

    Hello, Here is my problem: I've created reference pattern for camera calibration. It consist of well defined dots where each dot is unique. What I'm trying to do is to estimate lens distortion from only one photo. I can easily identify dots on photo, but I have no idea how to estimate the...
  5. J

    Differential Pressure Transmitter (DPT) Calibration

    I understand the basic principle behind pressure sensor calibration but i am still not able to do a calibration problem. Could someone Explain how you would go about calibrating a standard 4-20mA Differential Pressure Transmitter (DPT) to measure differential pressure in the range 5 to 20 psi...
  6. J

    Do strain gauges need calibration

    do strain gauges need calibration
  7. M

    Spring Calibration Data -> Need to figure out formula

    Spring Calibration Data --> Need to figure out formula I feel like every time I post a problem here, I end up figuring it out. So, thanks for that! haha
  8. V

    Calibration factor of Optical BPF

    Hello all I have been working on a Raman OTDR setup over the past few months as part of my project work. I have been using an optical BPF which takes backscatter from the fiber under test as input and gives the stokes' and anti-stokes' spectrum as outputs. My guide asked me to calculate the...
  9. J

    Converting kN to Bar: An Explanation and Guide

    I have received a pr. gauge for calibration. It's graduations are in bar and kN. The gauge is to be calibrated using kN readings and result should be given along with the uncertainty in measurements. The diameter of the piston used in the system (provided by the customer) is 5.4cm. Can anybody...
  10. A

    What Does Calibration Reveal About Absolute Zero?

    Homework Statement A constant-volume gas thermometer is cal- ibrated in dry ice (which is carbon dioxide in the solid state and has a temperature of −80◦C) and in boiling ethyl alcohol (78◦C). The two pressures are 1 atm and 1.542 atm. What value of absolute zero does the cali- bration...
  11. S

    Linear energy calibration for Co60

    Homework Statement The data obtained in the experiment is in the graph http://img213.imageshack.us/f/energycalibration.png/ My teacher says that do a linear energy calibration for photopeaks. The Attempt at a Solution A photopeak seems to be a peak caused by the emission of photons...
  12. N

    NDIR gas sensor calibration

    Homework Statement I am looking for help and information to calibrate a NDIR CO2 gas sensor for temperature and pressure compensation using the beers law extension coefficients.I have found some limited information through going through the web. This is straight through gas cell made in the...
  13. E

    Shunt Calibration of a Strain Gauge

    I've recently been researching how to measure strain using strain gauges. I came upon the subject of shunt calibration and hit a mental roadblock. From what I understand, shunt calibration simulates a strain across a strain gauge using a comparatively large resistor placed in parallel with...
  14. M

    Calibration curve and concentration?

    calibration curve and concentration?? The following is all of the data I have from a AAS/FES for water analysis. I need to make the calibration curves for calcium and sodium. and then I have to find the concentration. can someone please help me with this? i know that the Abs values will be one...
  15. C

    Need help getting the calibration curve of diffractometer

    I have obtained an XRD pattern for Silicon, with the peaks occurring at 28.5, 47.35, 56.15, 69.3,76.4,88.05 degrees within the 2theta range. h k l d-space 1 1 1 3.1200 2 2 0 1.9100 3 1 1 1.6300 4 0 0 1.3500 3 3 1 1.2400 4 2 2 1.1000 these are the...
  16. J

    Calibration Uncertainty for average results when digital meter used for readings

    Hello, I am trying to work out the total uncertainty for a measurement, so am using the square root of the reading uncertainty squared + calibration uncertainty squared + random uncertainty squared equation. I have found in a textbook of mine that the calibration uncertainty for a digital...
  17. E

    Calibration of an Interactive Whiteboard

    I am trying to create an interactive whiteboard with an IR camera (wiimote actually), IR pen, and an arbitrary surface. For simplicity I'll assume the surface is a screen. To know how an IR dot from the camera's point of view relates to a point on the screen's surface, I must calibrate it with a...
  18. B

    Calibration Curves: Understanding How to Find Concentration of Unknowns

    I looked this up but couldn't find sufficient information on it. What I know is that calibration curves are used to find the concentration of an unknown compound by graphing a series of measurements of a property like light absorbance from standard solutions of that compound. What I don't get is...
  19. Q

    Gamma ray spectroscopy: Germanium detector efficiency calibration.

    Hi all, Got a bit of a problem with a lab experiment at uni (I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, mods feel free to move it if necessary!) Anyway: We're trying to get a plot of efficiency against energy for a planar germanium detector. We've got spectra for different...
  20. J

    Is Understanding Mass Spectrometer Operation Essential for Proper Calibration?

    Is it necessary to know the procedure of operation of a mass spectrometer in order to select the correct calibration standards? The mass spectrometer will be used to determine the isotopic composition in a gas.
  21. S

    Manual or calibration method for HP 70950A osa

    Hello, I have got a HP 70950 Optical Spectrum Analyser, embedded into a HP 71450A mainframe. Can anyone supply a copy of this manual to me? If not, does anyone know the procedure to calibrate the wavelength, which is now 1.1nm shifted in the 1.3um region. I can use the offset command, but...
  22. E

    Calibration of a 3-Axis Accelerometer for fixing effect of gravity

    Hi all, I've been trying to develop this excel macro for mapping out a train track and locating kinks. It's been going well so far except that when the accelerometer is not exactly level with the ground, the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2) is not only effective in the z-direction...
  23. G

    LVDT calibration plot - what is the purpose for frequency respone?

    I am given the plot done during the calibration of LVDT by pulling and pushing the actautor. The actuator was pulled by 1 cm every few second to full extent and then back ( or it was pushed and then pulled, does it matter?). What are the meanings of values of the vertical and horizontal axis...
  24. C

    Calculating a calibration factor for velocity between Volts and m/s

    Homework Statement Hi, i have to calculate a calibration factor to change a measurement for velocity in volts from a vibration test rig into a measurement of velocity in m/s. Homework Equations I have data for velocity in volts and i am using the equation v=x'=awcos(wt) to...
  25. S

    How can I simulate a rotameter float to change height using Comsol?

    i am working with making a rotameter in comsol.i want to make a calibration curve (height of float vs. flow rate). https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/21281 https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/21282 i failed to move the solid float through the pipe with velocity.how i can...
  26. N

    TDS Calibration & RO Design Framework

    Having bought a TDS meter off-the-shelf from a store, I came across this notice: http://www.reagecon.com/PerspectiveCMS/uploads/TDS_Tech_Tip.pdf Now though I am going to use the TDS meter for water testing purposes(ground water hardness,hence potability,subsequently use the measurements...
  27. B

    Geiger counter calibration question

    I'm wondering if anyone could point me to a reference that explains how commercial digital geiger counters convert from the natural counts/sec unit to units of mR or uR/hr?
  28. D

    Help! Calibrating Rig for Moment Force

    Help! Calibration rig Hi guys, I'm new to engineering and currently, my school gave us a project to measure the lift, drag and moment forces acting on the aerofoil at various angle, but we need to do a calibration on the load cell which we will be using. But, how to we add weight on...
  29. S

    Calibration error & zero error

    Homework Statement I have an equation with a number of variables, of which the values and their uncertainties are known. Two of these variables are measured with a ruler, h and l. The question is, will a zero error in the ruler affect the answer or the uncertainty in the answer? The same...
  30. S

    Help With Dynamic Force Calibration

    I am currently working on a project which involves me using a force sensor. So far I have tested the sensor statically. However, I need to calibrate it dynamically so that the output voltage can be used to determine a force in Newtons. I have done a bit of research so far and it seems that it...
  31. M

    Or A Radioelement Calibration Problem Perhaps?

    'A Causality Problem For Milankovitch' is the title of this report, which challenges the insolation theory with reference to a cave in Nevada called Devils Hole. The penultimate termination of the ice age at 135 ka seems incompatible with the new data in 1992. The Devils Hole chronology was...
  32. R

    Troubleshooting Turbine Flowmeter Calibration

    Hi, I'm having a lot of trouble trying to set up a process for calibrating turbine flowmeters for use in fuel rigs. Basically, I have a calibrated "master" flowmeter in series with the uncalibrated turbine flowmeter. I need a process that will give me the line of best fit across the...
  33. I

    Markov chain calibration to a set of cumulated frequencies.

    Homework Statement Hi! I have been given such a task: A population of firms can assume three states: good-bad-bankrupt (default) The cumulated frequencies of default (DP) from year 1 to 10 are given. Find an appropriate transition matrix (TM) I'm given a matrix of historical cumulated...
  34. M

    How can I calibrate an accelerometer with unequal sensitivity between axes?

    background: I am working with an accelerometer to measure the tilt angle of a mechanical device. The accelerometer reads x, y, z values that can be made into a "gravity vector". The accelerometer can NOT be assumed to mount square with the device. The accelerometer is NOT well calibrated, so the...
  35. M

    NAI(Thallium doped) Scintillator Calibration?

    I'm currently taking intermediate Lab II (Physics 414) and we're currently working on Gamma Ray Spectroscopy. We are tasked with manually calibrating a NA-I Scintillator doped with Thallium in order to determine the isotope composition of an unknown source. My partner and I have been thinking...
  36. A

    Calibration of a thermometer naphthalene

    I would like to know why are naphthalene, acetanilide, benzoic acid, and adipic acid used in calibration of thermometers. Do those compounds have any specific property that makes them adecute for this process?
  37. E

    Instrumentation & calibration curve related

    I am new to instruments. My project is to modify an existing colorimeter which presently measure several chemical compositions in water. Colorimeters as you know is a simple version of a atomic absorption spectro-photometer (as far as I understand) which uses only the visible light spectrum to...
  38. M

    Calibration of ion flow chambre

    I need to calibrate ion flow chambre,dont know exactly how. I don't know also how to relate Bq/m3 to doserate mSv/h. Are there any doserate limits,instructions suggest that there are.
  39. C

    Fabry Perot etalon calibration

    Hi, I'm performing an experiment whose goal is to analyze the splitting of the green Mercury line under Zeeman's effect. To do this we use a Fabry-Perot etalon, which first has to be calibrated. This means both making sure that the two reflective mirrors are parallel, and then measuring the...
  40. M

    Calibrate Magnet 0.5T to -0.5T: Hysteris Loop?

    If I'm calibrating a magnet between 0.5T and -0.5T. Should I go to like 0.1, and flip the current to -0.1 then back to 0.1, onto 0.2, -0.2 etc. Or go in increments from 0T to 0.5 T, then 0T to -0.5T, after putting the magnet through a hysteris loop? I'd imagine the first way, but am wondering...
  41. Chronos

    An HST Program for the Luminosity Calibration of Type Ia Supernovae

    Here is an interesting [and important] paper, IMO: The Hubble Constant: A Summary of the HST Program for the Luminosity Calibration of Type Ia Supernovae by Means of Cepheids Authors: A. Sandage (1), G.A. Tammann (2), A. Saha (3), B. Reindl (2), F.D. Macchetto (4), N. Panagia (4)...
  42. B

    - Calibration curve question

    URGENT- Calibration curve question Okay, so I'm a physicist doing a chem class so I'm a little out of my depth. I've got a lab report to hand in but I'm a little stuck on the last part, working out the concentration of Se from a calibration curve. My problem is that the calibration curve is...
  43. Mk

    Medical How can I improve my proprioception without relying on visual cues?

    I was just hitting the spine of a small hardcover book against my ankle bone without looking. I my accuracy is not where I want it to be. My propriception is not as good as I'd like it to be. Not that it is under-average or anything (like I'd know the average..), but I would like to improve...
  44. M

    How Can You Efficiently Calculate x from y = log2(x)?

    Hello All, I have a very impotant question for you. Any help is appreciated. Given is a logarithmical function: y = log2x (2 is the base) and the y value is known. I have to find out what is the x value in the fewest steps possible. It can be made by giving sample values for x and...
  45. M

    Testing thermistor and calibration - sensors

    Hi please help I have to do a piece of coursework on sensors. I am testing a thermistor and my teacher mentioned something about calibration but I don't know what it is can someone help please. I have taken results for the resistances for every ten degrees from 0 to 150
Back
Top