MEGR 3171 — Week 1: Measurement System Performance

Overview

Week 1 at a Glance

This week launches Module 1: Precision Measurement and Signal Science. Before you can condition, digitize, or process any signal, you need a rigorous vocabulary for describing how well a measurement system actually works. That foundation is what this week builds.

You will study the complete measurement system chain from measurand to indication, then quantify how each link in that chain performs using the standard metrics practiced by industry and adopted in ASME, ISO, and NIST standards: accuracy, precision, resolution, sensitivity, linearity, hysteresis, and deadband.

Measurement system chainStatic performance metricsAccuracy vs. precisionCalibration fundamentalsStandards and traceabilityData presentation

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Why it matters in practice. Every specification sheet you read as an engineer reports these metrics. Selecting the wrong sensor because you misread "accuracy" versus "precision" or "resolution" versus "sensitivity" is a real and costly mistake. This week closes that gap permanently.

Objectives

What You Will Be Able to Do

Course objectives (CO) define program-level skills. Module objectives (MO) define specific weekly targets that build toward them.

Course Objectives (CO)

CO1: Train students in the proper use of measurement instrumentation and data acquisition systems.

CO2: Teach students techniques for designing and conducting laboratory experiments.

Module Objectives (MO) — Week 1

Describe the stages of a general measurement system and identify the dominant error source at each stage.
CO1

Develop an experimental test plan that specifies measurands, sensors, signal conditioning, and DAQ parameters.
CO2

Perform and document a multi-point sensor calibration and compute calibration coefficients.
CO1

Explain the role of measurement standards and traceability chains in establishing credible results.
CO1

Apply conventions for presenting measurement data: significant figures, units, uncertainty notation, and graphical best practices.
CO1

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Review these objectives before you start each assignment. They map directly to what is assessed on the quiz, homework, and exams.

Suggested Learning Path

How to Work Through This Week

Follow this sequence. Each step prepares you for the next. Do not attempt graded work before completing the instructional material it depends on.

1

Read Alciatore Ch. 1 (all sections)

Complete the reading before anything else. Pay close attention to Table 1.1 (performance terminology) and the worked examples for accuracy and precision. Budget 60-90 minutes for a careful first read.

2

Watch the Signal Conditioning micro-lecture (2 min)

A short contextual overview that ties the Ch. 1 material to the signal conditioning topics coming in Weeks 2-4. Watch immediately after reading.

3

Attend Lecture — bring your textbook

Two 75-minute lectures cover the measurement chain (Lecture 1) and calibration, standards, and data presentation (Lecture 2). The in-class problem session is your first hands-on application of MO3 and MO5.

4

Submit the Quiz — end of Week 1

The Quiz is your first-day attendance and engagement check. It is short, but requires you to have been in class and completed the reading. Submit by the posted deadline in Canvas.

5

Begin the Homework — due Week 2

The Module 1 Homework is due by the end of Week 2. Start it this week while the lecture content is fresh. Problems build on each other; do not skip sections.

Instructional Material

Required Readings, Videos, and Resources

Complete all required items before moving to graded activities. The Aligns to column maps each resource to the module objectives it directly supports.

Resource	What You Will Gain	Aligns to	Est. Time
Read Alciatore Ch. 1 — Introduction to Measurements and Instrumentation (5th Ed.)	Foundational vocabulary: measurand, transducer, signal conditioning, DAQ, and indication. All static performance metrics defined and illustrated with worked examples.	MO1-MO5	60-90 min
Watch Micro-lecture: Learning about Signal Conditioning	A 2-minute overview connecting Ch. 1 terminology to the signal conditioning hardware you will use in Weeks 2-4. Real-world motivation for why performance metrics matter.	MO1	2 min
Explore NIST Measurement Uncertainty Guide (online, free)	Optional but recommended. The U.S. national standard for expressing uncertainty in measurement. Reinforces MO4 and previews Week 3 content.	MO4, MO5	Optional
Lab Prep Review Arduino Uno pin diagram and IDE setup	Lab activities begin in Week 2. Make sure your Arduino IDE is installed and your board is recognized before coming to lab. No hardware required this week.	MO1	15-20 min

Graded Learning Activities

Assignments and Due Dates

All graded work is submitted through Canvas. Complete the listed prerequisites before attempting each assignment.

Assignment	Prerequisites	What Is Assessed	Aligns to	Points
Module 1 Quiz: First Day Attendance End of Week 1	Attend class. Complete the Ch. 1 reading and the Signal Conditioning micro-lecture before attempting.	Lecture attendance and engagement. Questions drawn directly from in-class discussion and the micro-lecture.	MO1, MO2	10 pts
Module 1 Homework: Measurements Fundamentals End of Week 2	Complete Ch. 1 reading before starting. Problems build in sequence — do not skip sections.	Quantitative application of all five module objectives: instrument spec interpretation, calibration calculation, uncertainty reporting, and data presentation.	MO1-MO5	50 pts

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Academic integrity. Problems in this course are anchored to measurements you make on your own Arduino hardware. A correct answer that does not match your measured values will receive zero credit for that problem, regardless of the arithmetic. Show your work and report your actual sensor readings.