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Introductory Activity for Electrical Instrumentation

Module by: Darryl Morrell

Summary: This module has instructions and questions for an activity that introduces basic concepts of electrical instrumentation.

Acknowledgment:

Development of this material was supported by the Arizona Board of Regents' Learner Centered Education Grant Program, Grant #11BU06.

Activity Objectives

  • Students identify components of an instrumentation system.
  • Students describe the function of the instrumentation system components.
  • Students demonstrate a conceptual understanding of bandwidth and accuracy.

Preliminary Reading

Before beginning the activity, read the instrumentation handout.

Additional Reading Resources

The following resources give additional information about data acquisition systems, and you may find them useful and interesting either before or after the activity.

Activity

Working with your team, observe the data acquisition system. Identify the major components of the system, and describe how they are connected. Where possible, identify the function of each of the components of the system.

Assignment

  1. Create a written description of the data acquisition system, including the components, their connections, and their functions. Use drawings and diagrams where appropriate.
  2. Compare your description of the acquisition system with the block diagram in Figure 1 at this link. Match the components you have described with the components in the block diagram.
  3. This question introduces the concept of bandwidth. Consider two different scenarios in which you might measure temperature:
    • Scenario A - you are collecting weather data that includes air temperature.
    • Scenario B - you are collecting temperature measurements from a brake disk on a van during emergency stops.
    How often would you need to obtain temperature measurements to accurately characterize the changes in temperature in each scenario? Why?
  4. This question introduces the concept of accuracy and quantization. Consider two different scenarios in which you might measure acceleration:
    • Scenario A - in orbit, the Space Shuttle is not always completely weightless; there may be very small accelerations that create micro gravity conditions.
    • Scenario B - acceleration is measured in an experimental fighter aircraft to determine whether the pilot will be injured.
    In which scenario would you need to measure acceleration more accurately? What factors affect the required accuracy?

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