Rahul Devashish
Rahul DevashishCoursePhysicsMeasuring Instruments
17 Jun 2025Β·6 min readΒ·

Measuring Instruments

  1. What is used to measure temperature?
    a) Barometer
    b) Hygrometer
    c) Thermometer
    d) Calorimeter
    βœ… c) Thermometer
    Explanation: A thermometer measures temperature, often using mercury or alcohol.

  2. Instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure:
    a) Manometer
    b) Barometer
    c) Hygrometer
    d) Thermometer
    βœ… b) Barometer
    Explanation: Barometers detect changes in air pressure, helping predict weather.

  3. Which instrument is used to measure electric current?
    a) Ammeter
    b) Voltmeter
    c) Galvanometer
    d) Ohmmeter
    βœ… a) Ammeter
    Explanation: Ammeters are connected in series and measure current in amperes.

  4. Instrument to measure humidity:
    a) Anemometer
    b) Barometer
    c) Hygrometer
    d) Pyrometer
    βœ… c) Hygrometer
    Explanation: Hygrometers measure moisture content in the atmosphere.

  5. Which instrument measures potential difference?
    a) Galvanometer
    b) Voltmeter
    c) Ammeter
    d) Ohmmeter
    βœ… b) Voltmeter
    Explanation: Voltmeters are connected in parallel to measure voltage.

  6. Used to measure blood pressure:
    a) Thermometer
    b) Barometer
    c) Sphygmomanometer
    d) Hydrometer
    βœ… c) Sphygmomanometer
    Explanation: It measures systolic and diastolic pressure using mercury or digital readings.

  7. Which instrument is used to measure wind speed?
    a) Hygrometer
    b) Anemometer
    c) Wind vane
    d) Thermometer
    βœ… b) Anemometer
    Explanation: Anemometers are crucial in meteorology for wind speed data.

  8. Instrument for measuring altitude:
    a) Altimeter
    b) Calorimeter
    c) Barometer
    d) Chronometer
    βœ… a) Altimeter
    Explanation: Altimeters use air pressure to estimate height above sea level.

  9. To measure relative density of liquids:
    a) Barometer
    b) Calorimeter
    c) Hydrometer
    d) Thermometer
    βœ… c) Hydrometer
    Explanation: Hydrometers float in liquid to indicate density.

  10. Device to measure heat of chemical reactions:
    a) Hygrometer
    b) Calorimeter
    c) Spectrometer
    d) Barometer
    βœ… b) Calorimeter
    Explanation: Calorimeters quantify energy changes during physical or chemical reactions.

  11. Which instrument is used to detect and measure radiation?
    a) Ammeter
    b) Galvanometer
    c) Geiger-MΓΌller counter
    d) Spectrometer
    βœ… c) Geiger-MΓΌller counter
    Explanation: GM counters detect ionizing radiation like alpha, beta, and gamma rays.

  12. Which device measures seismic waves?
    a) Seismograph
    b) Oscilloscope
    c) Altimeter
    d) Anemometer
    βœ… a) Seismograph
    Explanation: Seismographs record Earth tremors and earthquakes.

  13. To measure luminous intensity:
    a) Lux meter
    b) Colorimeter
    c) Spectrometer
    d) Thermopile
    βœ… a) Lux meter
    Explanation: Lux meters measure light in terms of lux (lumens/mΒ²).

  14. Instrument to measure angles of elevation/depression:
    a) Sextant
    b) Barometer
    c) Theodolite
    d) Chronometer
    βœ… c) Theodolite
    Explanation: Theodolites are used in surveying and construction.

  15. Used to measure depth of ocean:
    a) Radar
    b) Sonar
    c) Altimeter
    d) Magnetometer
    βœ… b) Sonar
    Explanation: SONAR uses sound waves to calculate underwater depth.

  16. Device that detects presence of electric current:
    a) Voltmeter
    b) Galvanometer
    c) Ammeter
    d) Potentiometer
    βœ… b) Galvanometer
    Explanation: Galvanometers detect current direction and small amounts.

  17. Used to measure frequency of sound:
    a) Oscilloscope
    b) Stroboscope
    c) Hertz meter
    d) Sound level meter
    βœ… c) Hertz meter
    Explanation: Hertz meters show the frequency (Hz) of waves or sound.

  18. Instrument used for measuring angles in navigation:
    a) Altimeter
    b) Sextant
    c) Clinometer
    d) Barometer
    βœ… b) Sextant
    Explanation: Sextants measure celestial object angles for navigation.

  19. What does a dynamometer measure?
    a) Electric charge
    b) Force or torque
    c) Light intensity
    d) Temperature
    βœ… b) Force or torque
    Explanation: Dynamometers test engine power or mechanical force.

  20. Instrument that measures electric resistance:
    a) Potentiometer
    b) Ohmmeter
    c) Ammeter
    d) Voltmeter
    βœ… b) Ohmmeter
    Explanation: Ohmmeters are used to find resistance in an electrical circuit.

  21. Used to analyze light spectra:
    a) Spectrometer
    b) Calorimeter
    c) Hygrometer
    d) Barometer
    βœ… a) Spectrometer
    Explanation: Spectrometers break light into components to study wavelengths.

  22. What is a tachometer used for?
    a) Measuring vehicle distance
    b) Measuring engine temperature
    c) Measuring rotational speed
    d) Measuring time
    βœ… c) Measuring rotational speed
    Explanation: Tachometers display revolutions per minute (RPM).

  23. Which instrument measures sound intensity?
    a) Sound level meter
    b) Decibel gauge
    c) Audiometer
    d) Hertz meter
    βœ… a) Sound level meter
    Explanation: It gives sound intensity in decibels (dB).

  24. Instrument for measuring blood oxygen saturation:
    a) Sphygmomanometer
    b) Oximeter
    c) Stethoscope
    d) Electrocardiograph
    βœ… b) Oximeter
    Explanation: Oximeters use light to detect oxygen saturation in blood.

  25. What does a barograph do?
    a) Records humidity
    b) Records air pressure over time
    c) Measures wind speed
    d) Measures temperature
    βœ… b) Records air pressure over time
    Explanation: Barographs provide a pressure chart used in weather forecasting.

  26. Used to measure rainfall:
    a) Hygrometer
    b) Rain gauge
    c) Barometer
    d) Anemometer
    βœ… b) Rain gauge
    Explanation: Rain gauges collect and measure precipitation.

  27. Instrument used to measure electric potential:
    a) Electroscope
    b) Voltmeter
    c) Potentiometer
    d) Ammeter
    βœ… c) Potentiometer
    Explanation: Potentiometers compare electric potential in circuits.

  28. Used for precise time measurement:
    a) Stopwatch
    b) Chronometer
    c) Digital watch
    d) Timer
    βœ… b) Chronometer
    Explanation: Chronometers offer precise timekeeping, especially for navigation.

  29. To detect electrical charge:
    a) Ammeter
    b) Voltmeter
    c) Electroscope
    d) Galvanometer
    βœ… c) Electroscope
    Explanation: Electroscopes show presence of static electricity.

  30. Device for measuring small masses:
    a) Spring balance
    b) Beam balance
    c) Electronic balance
    d) Dynamometer
    βœ… c) Electronic balance
    Explanation: Offers precision up to micrograms in lab conditions.

  31. The instrument used to measure leaf area in botany is:
    a) Barometer
    b) Lux meter
    c) Planimeter
    d) Altimeter
    βœ… c) Planimeter
    Explanation: Planimeters measure area of irregular leaf surfaces.

  32. An oscilloscope is used for measuring:
    a) Voltage only
    b) Sound
    c) Varying electrical signals
    d) Magnetic field
    βœ… c) Varying electrical signals
    Explanation: It visualizes waveforms of electrical currents.

  33. Which instrument is used to observe bacterial growth?
    a) Microscope
    b) Thermocouple
    c) Spectrophotometer
    d) Barometer
    βœ… a) Microscope
    Explanation: Microscopes magnify tiny life forms.

  34. Instrument to measure nuclear radiation dose:
    a) Lux meter
    b) Dosimeter
    c) Seismometer
    d) Calorimeter
    βœ… b) Dosimeter
    Explanation: Measures radiation exposure over time.

  35. A manometer measures:
    a) Blood sugar
    b) Atmospheric pressure
    c) Pressure of gases/liquids in a closed system
    d) Electric field
    βœ… c) Pressure of gases/liquids in a closed system
    Explanation: U-tube manometers detect pressure differences.

  36. Which instrument measures light absorption by solutions?
    a) Spectrophotometer
    b) Hygrometer
    c) Radiometer
    d) Lux meter
    βœ… a) Spectrophotometer
    Explanation: Used in biochemistry to analyze concentrations.

  37. Pyrometer is used to measure:
    a) Wind pressure
    b) High temperature
    c) Altitude
    d) Electric resistance
    βœ… b) High temperature
    Explanation: Pyrometers are non-contact devices used in kilns and furnaces.

  38. Instrument to detect orientation/direction:
    a) Magnetometer
    b) Gyroscope
    c) Barometer
    d) Oscilloscope
    βœ… b) Gyroscope
    Explanation: Maintains direction based on angular momentum.

  39. Which measures magnetic field?
    a) Electrometer
    b) Thermopile
    c) Magnetometer
    d) Voltmeter
    βœ… c) Magnetometer
    Explanation: Detects strength and direction of magnetic fields.

  40. Device to measure Earth's gravity:
    a) Gravitometer
    b) Gravimeter
    c) Barometer
    d) Seismograph
    βœ… b) Gravimeter
    Explanation: Used in geophysics to detect subsurface density changes.

  41. Radiometer measures:
    a) Light intensity
    b) Sound
    c) Radio waves
    d) Thermal radiation
    βœ… d) Thermal radiation
    Explanation: Measures radiant energy from a source.

  42. What does an audiometer test?
    a) Light sensitivity
    b) Hearing ability
    c) Blood pressure
    d) Taste sensitivity
    βœ… b) Hearing ability
    Explanation: Audiometers test auditory range and hearing loss.

  43. What is a planimeter used for?
    a) Pressure
    b) Measuring area
    c) Density
    d) Elevation
    βœ… b) Measuring area
    Explanation: Traces boundaries to compute enclosed areas.

  44. Which of these measures electric field strength?
    a) Galvanometer
    b) Voltmeter
    c) Electrometer
    d) Multimeter
    βœ… c) Electrometer
    Explanation: Measures voltage or charge accurately.

  45. Polarimeter is used to measure:
    a) Optical rotation
    b) Current flow
    c) Altitude
    d) pH level
    βœ… a) Optical rotation
    Explanation: Determines optical activity in chemical substances.

  46. Tachometer is used in:
    a) Barometers
    b) Engine RPM measurement
    c) AC voltage monitoring
    d) Mass spectrometry
    βœ… b) Engine RPM measurement
    Explanation: Measures speed of rotation in motors/engines.

  47. What does a bolometer measure?
    a) Heat radiation
    b) Sound
    c) Magnetic field
    d) Blood glucose
    βœ… a) Heat radiation
    Explanation: Detects electromagnetic radiation via resistance change.

  48. Instrument used to measure breath alcohol content:
    a) Sphygmomanometer
    b) Alcometer
    c) Luxmeter
    d) Barometer
    βœ… b) Alcometer
    Explanation: Commonly used in DUI checks.

  49. What is a photometer used for?
    a) Speed
    b) Electric current
    c) Light intensity
    d) Chemical purity
    βœ… c) Light intensity
    Explanation: Measures brightness and flux of light.

  50. Thermocouple is used to measure:
    a) Air flow
    b) Temperature
    c) Voltage
    d) Pressure
    βœ… b) Temperature
    Explanation: Works by voltage generated due to temperature difference between two metals.