All working must be shown to ensure full points are awarded

All working must be shown to ensure full points are awarded for each answer. [8 points] For the measurement system shown to the right, state which components act as the sensor, transducer, signal processor, and the output, and explain each answer (think about the definition for each stage of a measurement system). A spring force gauge: The gauge is held at the top while a force is applied at the bottom. The scale is calibrated to show force in newtons (N).

Solution

In the given arrangement

1 FORCE SENSOR:- A load cell is a type of force sensor that sense the magnitude of applied load and converts the deformation of a material, measured by strain gauges, into an electrical signal. A load cell is of double beam configuration where force applied on beam bends it slightly and this bendind or strain produced changes the electrical output of the stain gauges mountewd on the beam material.

2 TRANSDUCER:- A transducer is a device that converts the magnitude of force applied into correspondind electrical signal. A transducer used in such an arangement can be of hydrualic type, pneumatic type or strain gauge type. Generally, strain gauges are widely used as transducer in a force gauge. The strain gauge measures the deformation (strain) as a change in electrical resistance, which is a measure of the strain and hence the applied forces. A load cell usually consists of four strain gauges in a Wheatstone bridge configuration.

3 SIGNAL PROCESSOR:- Its a microprocessor chip that senses, amplifies and transmits the electric signals generated by the gauge into optimized output. Microprocessor chips are used

4 OUTPUT:- The signals are interpretted by the microprocessors(signal processors) so as to display the magnitude of the applied force in terms of numeric value. Output is displayed on screen.