Inst ToolsInst ToolsInst Tools
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Search
  • Books
  • Software
  • Projects
  • Process
  • Tools
  • Basics
  • Formula
  • Power Plant
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Electrical Basics
  • Animation
  • Standards
  • 4-20 mA Course
  • Siemens PLC Course
Reading: Importance of Unit Measurement
Share
Font ResizerAa
Inst ToolsInst Tools
Font ResizerAa
  • Courses
  • Design
  • PLC
  • Interview
  • Control System
Search
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Inst Tools > Blog > Calibration > Importance of Unit Measurement

Importance of Unit Measurement

Any measurement has two parts – a number and a unit of measurement. The unit of measurement is very important in calibration.

Last updated: September 28, 2022 3:26 pm
Saurabh Vaidya
Calibration
1 Comment
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Measurement without units is useless. The unit of measurement is very important.

Contents
Importance of Unit MeasurementExamplesThe Gimli GliderMars Climate Orbiter

A measurement tells us about the property of something. It tells us how heavy an object is, or how long an object it is. A measurement gives us a number to that property.

Any measurement has two parts – a number and a unit of measurement.

Importance of Unit Measurement

Importance of Unit Measurement

Examples

For example,

The length of the wire is 1 meter. 1 is number and meter is the unit of measurement.

The weight of a man is 60 kg. 60 is number and kg is unit.

Also, weight is measure in pounds.

The weight of a man is 60 pounds. Here, 60 is the number and pounds is the unit.

However, 60 kg is not equal to 60 pounds. Even though both units are of weights, kg and pounds are not equal. So we can’t compare these units directly.

1 pound = 0.45 Kg, 60 pounds = 27.21 kg   

For comparing anything both quantities should have the same units.

The following examples show the importance of the unit in measurements. And what happens if the unit is not the same while comparing them.

The Gimli Glider

An Air Canada Boeing 767-233 jet was refueled in Montreal using 22,300 pounds of fuel instead of 22,300 kilograms. The pilot calculated how much fuel he needed thinking he was getting his fuel in pounds per litre.

When the plane ran out of fuel mid-flight, the pilot had to make an emergency ‘gliding’ landing at Gimli Canadian Air Force Base. As only 10115 kg (22,300 pounds) of fuel is refuel instead of 22,300 kg of fuel.

Mars Climate Orbiter

The Mars Climate Orbiter was a 638-kilogram, on September 23, 1999, communication with the spacecraft was lost as the spacecraft went into orbital insertion, due to ground-based computer software which produced output in non-SI units of pound-force seconds (lbf·s) instead of the SI units of newton-seconds (N·s) specified in the contract between NASA and Lockheed.

The spacecraft encountered Mars on a trajectory that brought it too close to the planet, and it was either destroyed in the atmosphere or re-entered heliocentric space after leaving Mars’ atmosphere.

 NASA’s Mars Climate Orbiter programming teams in Europe and the USA used two different measurement systems, imperial and metric, to calculate the trajectory of the spacecraft. The probe consequently entered the Martian atmosphere at the wrong angle and promptly disintegrated.

Even simple measurement mistakes can be very costly!

Also, No measurement is complete without Uncertainty. 

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for Instrumentation, Electrical, PLC, and SCADA video tutorials.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter to receive daily updates.

Read Next:

  • Importance of Vibration Measurement
  • Actuators Questions and Answers
  • Importance of Flow Meter Turndown Ratio
  • The Importance of Electrical Safety
  • Basics of Hydrostatic Level Measurement
Don't Miss Our Updates
Be the first to get exclusive content straight to your email.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
You've successfully subscribed !

Continue Reading

Nuclear Interface Level Measurement Principle, Limitations, Installation and Calibration
Differential Pressure Transmitter Calibration Procedure
Smart Transmitter Calibration Tutorial Part 1
DP Diaphragm Capillary Seal Level instrument Calibration Procedure
Field Instrument Calibration Errors
Automated Calibration
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Copy Link
Share
1 Comment
  • Kayla says:
    April 1, 2022 at 11:44 pm

    What is the date of this article?
    I am doing a debate on the metric system. And the material I use needs to be recent.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

128.3kFollowersLike
69.1kFollowersFollow
210kSubscribersSubscribe
38kFollowersFollow

Categories

Explore More

Types of Calibration
Flow Meter Calibration
Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP) Sensor Calibration Procedure
Instrument Maintenance and Calibration System
NIST Traceability
How are HART instruments Calibrated?
Transmitter Calibration Procedure
Calibration and Preventative Maintenance Procedures

Keep Learning

Gas Detectors Calibration

Calibration of Gas Detectors

Difference between Calibration and Ranging

Difference between Calibration and Ranging

Hydrogen Sulfide Gas Detector Calibration Procedure

Hydrogen Sulfide Gas Detector Calibration Procedure

RTD Testing Methods

RTD Testing Methods in Calibration Laboratory

Displacer Level Transmitter weight calibration

Displacer Level Transmitter Dry Calibration with Weights

Calibration of Temperature Sensor with Indicator

Calibration of Temperature Sensor with Indicator

Smart Transmitter Calibration Tutorial Part 3

Smart Transmitter Calibration Tutorial Part 3

Vibration Probe Field Setting Procedure

How to do calibration checks of vibration Probe, extension cable and vibration monitor

Learn More

capacitor-filter-ripples

Ripple Voltage in Rectifiers

Peripheral Inputs and Outputs in Siemens PLC

Peripheral Inputs and Outputs in Siemens PLC

Gas Detection Excel Converters

Radiation Pyrometer Working Principle

Radiation Pyrometer Working Principle

Chemical Dosing Control System

Introduction to Chemical Dosing System

Introduction of Urea Bagging machine

Introduction to Urea Bagging Machine

water seal drum lever transmitter

Determine LRV and URV settings for the Level Transmitter

Classification of Transmission Lines

Classification of Transmission Lines

Menu

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Quick Links

  • Learn PLC
  • Helping Hand
  • Part Time Job

YouTube Subscribe

Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?