Measuring Instrument
The device which is used to measure a physical quantity is known as measuring instrument, e.g. vernier calliper, scale, etc.
• The least count of a measuring device is the least distance that can be measured using the device.
Least count = Value of 1 main scale division / Total number of vernier scale division
This formula is applicable for vernier calliper, screw gauge, spectrometer, etc.
• Resolution stands for least count or the minimum reading which an instrument can read.
• Accuracy of a measurement is a measure of how close the measured value is to the true value of the quantity.
• Precision is the degree of exactness or refinement of a measurement. Precision depends upon the least count of the measuring instrument. Smaller is the least count of instrument, greater is precision.
