Physics · General Awareness

Physics Measuring Instruments

1,180 Questions

Physics measuring instruments are essential tools used to measure various physical quantities. This topic covers devices like hygrometers, oscilloscopes, and sphygmomanometers. It is a highly scoring section in general science and general awareness examinations.

Pressure and humidity instrumentsElectrical measuring devicesMedical physics toolsNavigational instruments

Physics Measuring Instruments Questions

Multiple choice

In an oil lamp, the oil rises in the wick due to

  1. capillary action

  2. atmospheric pressure

  3. viscosity of oil

  4. change in temperature
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without external forces. The wick in an oil lamp contains very narrow pores, and the oil rises up through these tiny channels due to capillary action and surface tension, not atmospheric pressure or viscosity.

Multiple choice

Which of the following pairs is not correct?

  1. a. Seismograph - Earthquakes

  2. b. Anemometer - Speed of the wind

  3. c. Hygrometer - Water vapour content of the atmosphere

  4. d. Lactometer - Specific gravity of liquids
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All three instruments A, B, and C are correctly matched - seismograph measures earthquakes, anemometer measures wind speed, hygrometer measures atmospheric water vapor. Lactometer is specifically designed to measure the specific gravity of milk (not generic liquids), making this the correct answer for 'not correct' if we interpret the question as identifying the least accurate or oversimplified match.

Multiple choice

The instrument " Electroscope" is used to?

  1. Measure the strength of an electric current

  2. Detect the presence of electric charge

  3. Measure sound under water

  4. None of these.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

An electroscope is a simple device used to detect and measure the presence of electric charge on a body. When a charged object is brought near, the electroscope's leaves diverge, indicating charge presence. It does not measure current strength or sound.

Multiple choice

The instrument 'photometer' is used to

  1. magnify or view very small objects

  2. measure the refractive index of a substance

  3. to compare the luminous intensity of the sources of light

  4. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A photometer is an instrument that measures the intensity of light or compares luminous intensity between different light sources. It's used in physics and optics laboratories.

Multiple choice

Humidity in the air is measured by a/an:

  1. Hydrometer

  2. Hygrometer

  3. Opisometer

  4. Barometer
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A hygrometer is the instrument specifically designed to measure humidity or water vapor content in the atmosphere. A hydrometer measures liquid density, an opisometer measures curved line distances, and a barometer measures atmospheric pressure.

Multiple choice

The instrument used for finding wind direction is

  1. anemometer

  2. wind vane

  3. wind gauze

  4. hygrometer
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A wind vane is a weather instrument used specifically to indicate the direction from which the wind is blowing. An anemometer, by contrast, measures wind speed, while a hygrometer measures humidity. Thus, wind vane is the correct choice.

Multiple choice

The instrument ' Resistance Thermometer' is used to?

  1. Determine the electrical resistance of conductor

  2. Determine the concentration of salt solutions by measuring their densities

  3. Spectrum analysis

  4. None of these.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A resistance thermometer (or resistance temperature detector) measures electrical resistance of a conductor, which changes predictably with temperature. This resistance change is then used to determine temperature. It's not used for measuring salt solution concentrations or spectrum analysis.