Calibration and performance parameters – MCQs – EE

1. What is the main purpose of calibration?
(A) To repair the instrument
(B) To ensure the accuracy of measurements
(C) To increase instrument speed
(D) To change instrument design

2. Calibration is the process of:
(A) Comparing an instrument’s output with a known reference standard
(B) Replacing the measuring sensor
(C) Adjusting the power supply
(D) Modifying signal conditioning

3. A calibration curve shows the relationship between:
(A) Input and output of an instrument
(B) Time and frequency
(C) Voltage and current
(D) Temperature and humidity

4. A primary standard is:
(A) The most accurate reference used in calibration
(B) A portable calibration tool
(C) A secondary measuring instrument
(D) A user-defined reference

5. The process of calibration ensures:
(A) Traceability to national or international standards
(B) Reduced instrument size
(C) Better data storage
(D) Increased power output

6. Which of the following represents the accuracy of an instrument?
(A) Closeness to the true value
(B) Consistency of measurements
(C) Sensitivity of the sensor
(D) Response time

7. Precision refers to:
(A) Reproducibility or repeatability of measurements
(B) Closeness to true value
(C) Sensitivity of sensor
(D) Linearity of system

8. The sensitivity of an instrument is defined as:
(A) Ratio of output change to input change
(B) Ratio of true value to error
(C) Difference between measured and true value
(D) Instrument drift over time

9. Linearity in a measurement system means:
(A) Output is directly proportional to input
(B) Output is constant regardless of input
(C) Input is fixed
(D) Error increases exponentially

10. Hysteresis error occurs when:
(A) Instrument output depends on direction of input change
(B) Sensor response is instantaneous
(C) Output is linear
(D) Calibration is done frequently

11. Resolution of an instrument refers to:
(A) The smallest change in input detectable by the instrument
(B) The highest possible input
(C) The maximum output voltage
(D) The accuracy of calibration

12. Drift in measurement systems refers to:
(A) Gradual change in output over time under constant input
(B) Random noise fluctuations
(C) Calibration adjustment
(D) Linearity improvement

13. Zero drift occurs when:
(A) The instrument’s zero reading changes with time or temperature
(B) The slope of calibration curve changes
(C) The sensitivity changes
(D) The response time decreases

14. Span drift occurs when:
(A) The slope of the calibration curve changes
(B) Zero point remains constant
(C) The offset voltage increases
(D) Temperature remains unchanged

15. Repeatability is a measure of:
(A) Consistency of readings under the same conditions
(B) Long-term accuracy
(C) Instrument linearity
(D) Sensor temperature range

16. Reproducibility refers to:
(A) The ability to obtain similar results under different conditions
(B) Instantaneous response
(C) Thermal stability
(D) Linearity of calibration

17. Range of an instrument is:
(A) The difference between minimum and maximum measurable values
(B) The average of readings
(C) The input power rating
(D) The sensitivity value

18. Dynamic response of an instrument refers to:
(A) The behavior of the system for time-varying inputs
(B) Accuracy at steady state
(C) Average drift rate
(D) Linearity of response

19. The time constant of a first-order system is a measure of:
(A) Speed of response
(B) Accuracy
(C) Linearity
(D) Repeatability

20. Settling time is the time taken by a system to:
(A) Reach and stay within a specified error band of final value
(B) Complete one oscillation
(C) Reach maximum overshoot
(D) Respond to input step

21. The steady-state error is:
(A) The difference between final output and desired output
(B) The difference between input and noise
(C) The linear error of the sensor
(D) The system gain error

22. Calibration uncertainty is due to:
(A) Errors in the reference standard or measurement process
(B) Instrument linearity
(C) Response speed
(D) Zero offset

23. A traceable calibration means:
(A) The calibration can be linked to a recognized standard
(B) The instrument can store data
(C) It uses digital standards only
(D) It cannot be verified

24. The nonlinearity error is measured as:
(A) The deviation of the calibration curve from the ideal straight line
(B) The maximum change in output
(C) The zero offset
(D) The average of readings

25. The calibration factor is:
(A) The ratio between the standard and measured value
(B) The sensor output voltage
(C) The slope of the calibration curve
(D) The offset voltage

26. Error in measurement is defined as:
(A) The difference between measured value and true value
(B) The average of multiple readings
(C) The ratio of input to output
(D) The drift over time

27. Systematic error is:
(A) A predictable and consistent error
(B) A random variation
(C) An untraceable noise
(D) A calibration drift

28. Random errors are caused by:
(A) Environmental noise and unpredictable variations
(B) Faulty calibration
(C) Wrong reference standards
(D) Incorrect span settings

29. The percentage error is calculated as:
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

30. The main objective of calibration and performance evaluation is to:
(A) Ensure measurement accuracy, reliability, and consistency
(B) Reduce system size
(C) Eliminate electronic noise
(D) Increase signal frequency