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Instrumentation Topics - Absolute Instrument
- An instrument whose calibration can be determined by means of physical measurements on the instrument.
- Accelerometer
- An instrument for measuring acceleration, as of aircraft or guided missiles.
- Altimeter
- An instrument for measuring height above a reference datum.
- Astrolabe
- An instrument that was used to determine the altitude of objects in the sky.
- Barretter
- A type of bolometer characterized by an increase in resistance as the dissipated power rises.
- Bolometer
- A device for measuring minute amounts of radiant energy.
- Bourdon Tube
- Thin-walled tube of elastic metal flattened and bent into circular shape, which tends to straighten as pressure inside is increased.
- Calibrate
- To determine the indication or output of a measuring device with respect to that of a standard.
- Calorimeter
- An insulated vessel for measuring the amount of heat absorbed or released by a chemical or physical change.
- Capacitor Microphone
- Microphone whose operation depends on variations in capacitance caused by varying air pressure on the movable plate of a capacitor.
- Carbon Microphone
- Microphone whose operation depends on pressure variation in carbon granules causing a change in resistance.
- Compound Gauge
- Instrument for measuring pressures both above and below atmospheric pressure.
- Console
- An array of controls and indicators for controlling a complex system or sequence of events.
- Cover Slip
- Very thin square piece of glass or plastic placed over the specimen on a microscope slide.
- Detector
- A device that receives energy in one form and supplies an ouput in another form.
- Draft Gauge
- Instrument used to measure air movement by measuring air pressure differences.
- Echo Sounding
- Measurement of the depth of the ocean by directing a sonic or ultrasonic pressure wave vertically downward and determining the time taken before the echo is received.
- G meter
- A meter that indicates acceleration.
- Goniometer
- Instrument for measuring angles.
- Microphone
- An acoustical-electrical transducer by which sound waves in air may be converted to electrical signals.
- Microscope
- An instrument to see objects too small for the naked eye.
- Off Line Test Equipment
- Equipment that tests and isolates faults in modules or assemblies removed from systems.
- On Line Test Equipment
- Continuously monitors the performance of electronic systems.
- Oscilloscope
- An instrument using a cathode-ray tube for visual display of electric signals.
- Pyranometer
- An instrument which measures global radiation, the combined intensity of direct solar radiation and diffuse sky radiation.
- Pyrgeometer
- An instrument which measures the effective terrestrial radiation.
- Pyrheliometer
- An instrument which measures the intensity of direct solar radiation.
- Sferics Receiver
- An instrument which measures, electronically, the direction of arrival, intensity, and rate of occurrence of atmospherics.
- Shore Durometer
- Durometer is typically used as a measure of hardness in polymers, elastomers and rubbers.
- Stadimeter
- An instrument for determining the distance to an object of know dimension by measuring the angle subtended at the observer by the object.
- Test Equipment
- A general term applied to devices used to test electrical and electronic circuits.
- Thermocouple Meter Movement
- A meter movement that uses the current induced in a thermocouple by the heating of a resistive element to measure the current in a circuit; used to measure ac or dc.
- Tuning Fork
- A small two-pronged steel instrument which when struck produces a fixed tone.
- Turn Error
- Any error in gyro output due to cross-coupling and acceleration encountered during vehicle turns.
- Variometer
- An instrument for comparing magnetic forces, especially of the earth′s magnetic field.
- Velocimeter
- A continuous-wave reflection Doppler system used to measure the radial velocity of an object.
 
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