Measuring instrument

In physics and engineering, measurement is the activity of comparing physical quantities of real-world objects and events. Established standard objects and events are used as units, and the measurement results in a given number for the relationship between the item under study and the referenced unit of measurement. Measuring instruments are the means by which this translation is made.

Physicists use a vast range of instruments to perform their measurements. These range from simple objects such as rulers and stopwatches to electron microscopes and particle accelerators.

Mass

• balance
• weighing scales
• mass spectrometer
• katharometer
• colorimeter

Time

• calendar
• chronometer
• clock
• atomic clock
• radiometric dating

Length

• micrometer
• ruler
• interferometer

• sextant

• thermometer
• thermocouples
• thermistors
• pyrometers
• electromagnetic spectroscopy

• Barometer
• Manometer
• Pitot tube (used to determine speed)
• anemometer (used to determine wind speed)

pH

Level

Timeline of temperature and pressure measurement technology

Electrical Properties

• electrometer (Measures charge)
• Ammeter (Measures electrical current)
• Galvanometer (Measures current)
• Ohmeter (Measures resistance)
• Voltmeter (Measures voltage)
• Wheatstone bridge
• multimeter (Measures all of the above)
• Oscilloscope

• Spectroscopy is an important tool used by physicists.
• Microscope
• Spectrometer
• geiger counter
• Nichols radiometer
• radiometry