Vernire Caliper
A measuring instrument consisting of an L-shaped frame with a linear scale along its longer arm
and an L-shaped sliding attachment with a vernier used to read directly the dimension of an
object represented by the separation between the inner or outer edges of the two shorter arms.
A Vernier caliper is a precision instrument that measures internal dimensions, outside
dimensions, and depth. It can measure to an accuracy of one thousandth of an inch and one
hundredth of a millimeter. The caliper has two sets of jaws, one each on the upper and lower
portions.
Least Count of Vernier Caliper:
Vernier caliper least counts formula is calculated by dividing the smallest reading of the main
scale with the total number of divisions of the vernier scale.LC of vernier caliper is the
difference between one smallest reading of the main scale and one smallest reading
of vernier scale which is 0.1 mm 0r 0.01 cm.
Smallest divisionof main scale
least count=
total no of division on main scale
Instructions on use:
The Vernier caliper is an extremely precise measuring instrument; the reading error is
1/20 mm = 0.05 mm.
Close the jaws lightly on the object to be measured.
If you are measuring something with a round cross section, make sure that the axis of the
object is perpendicular to the caliper. This is necessary to ensure that you are measuring
the full diameter and not merely a chord.
Ignore the top scale, which is calibrated in inches.
Use the bottom scale, which is in metric units.
Notice that there is a fixed scale and a sliding scale.
The boldface numbers on the fixed scale are centimeters.
The tick marks on the fixed scale between the boldface numbers are millimeters.
There are ten tick marks on the sliding scale. The left-most tick mark on the sliding scale
will let you read from the fixed scale the number of whole millimeters that the jaws are
opened.
In the example above, the leftmost tick mark on the sliding scale is between 21 mm and
22 mm, so the number of whole millimeters is 21.
Next we find the tenths of millimeters. Notice that the ten tick marks on the sliding scale
are the same width as nine ticks marks on the fixed scale. This means that at most one of
the tick marks on the sliding scale will align with a tick mark on the fixed scale; the
others will miss.
The number of the aligned tick mark on the sliding scale tells you the number of tenths of
millimeters. In the example above, the 3rd tick mark on the sliding scale is in coincidence
with the one above it, so the caliper reading is (21.30 ± 0.05) mm.
If two adjacent tick marks on the sliding scale look equally aligned with their
counterparts on the fixed scale, then the reading is half way between the two marks. In
the example above, if the 3rd and 4th tick marks on the sliding scale looked to be equally
aligned, then the reading would be (21.35 ± 0.05) mm.
On those rare occasions when the reading just happens to be a "nice" number like 2 cm,
don't forget to include the zero decimal places showing the precision of the measurement
and the reading error. So not 2 cm, but rather (2.000 ± 0.005) cm or (20.00 ± 0.05) mm.
Zero Error:
In case of vernier calipers it occurs when a zero on main scale does not coincide with
a zero on vernier scale.
Positive zero error
Negative zero error
Zeroerror =Noof line × least count of VC
Practical Related to Vernier Caliper:
1. Calculate the length of a cylinder using vernier caliper and find its
mean length.
2. Calculate the volume of a given cylinder by calculating the diameter
of cylinder using vernier caliper.
Observation and calculations:
Least count of vernier caliper =
Zero error =
Correction =
Table 1: Length of Cylinder
S.No Main scale No of line Vernier Total Length Zero Correction Length of
reading Matching Scale (mm) Error (mm) Cylinder
(mm) reading Y =X=X’ (mm) (mm)
X (mm) Y’ = Y + Z.E
X’
+ +¿
Mean Length = 3 ¿ mm
Table 2: Volume of Cylinder
S.No Main scale No of line Vernier Diameter Zero Correction Diameter of
reading Matching Scale (mm) Error (mm) Cylinder
(mm) reading Y = X = X’ (mm) (mm)
X (mm) Y’ = Y+Z.E
X’
+ +¿
Mean Diameter = 3 ¿ mm
Diameter
radius= mm
2
Area=π r 2 mm2
Volume=Area ×lenght mm3
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
