Vernier Caliper Functioning and Uses

Introduction to Vernier Caliper

The origin of calipers can be traced back to the 9^th A.D. Qin dynasty. The second addition to reducing the margin of error was that of a Vernier, which was done by a French mathematician, Pierre Vernier, in 1631.

The main use of Vernier calipers is to measure the internal and external dimensions or distances accurately. Vernier calipers are preferred over other flat devices, such as rulers, as they have an extremely small reading error of 0.05mm, which is around 0.0019 inches.

There are mainly two types of Vernier calipers: one is manual and has two scales, one empirical and one metric, and the other one is the digital Vernier caliper with an LCD screen that displays the reading. The manual Vernier calipers are still much preferred by people, as they are much cheaper than the digital ones and are not dependent on power.

Preparations for Using Vernier Caliper

• The different parts: Vernier caliper has two jaws. The small jaw is used to measure the internal diameter of items, and the big jaw is used to measure the external diameter of the items. Some of the Vernier calipers also have a depth measurement device placed on their other end. The sliding scale, or the scale that expands and contracts the jaws, is known as the Vernier scale, and the main scale is the fixed one.

• Reading the Vernier caliper’s scales: The measurements are similar to a normal ruler. The caliper section of the device or the main scale has a format of inches and centimetres and may have a smaller division between them. The Vernier scale or the sliding scale signifies 1/10^th of the smallest division in comparison to the main scale. For simpler comprehension, the caliper scale is regular-sized, and the Vernier scale is “zoomed in” for more accurate readings.

• Test the smallest divisions your scale decipher: By counting the number of divisions between two numerics in your Vernier scale, you will get an idea of what distance every small line signifies.

• The object should be clean: As the measurements are done with the caliper at a very minute level, even a small amount of dirt or grease can mess up the whole procedure.

• The locking screw should be loosened: The screw keeps the device stable when not in use. As all screws do, turning it clockwise will loosen it and anticlockwise will tighten it.

• The jaws should be closed: To get the most precise measurement, the jaws should be closed, and the reading should be zeroed out. The student, if not careful about setting the caliper to zero at the beginning of the experiment, will have to correct the data for zero error once the measurements are done.

Using the Vernier Caliper

• As discussed above, the Vernier caliper has two jaws. The bigger one is tightened around the object, whereas the smaller one is inserted into the opening. The bigger jaws are used to measure the distance between two ends, whereas the smaller jaws are used to measure the internal diameter. Both the pair of jaws work by sliding the small scale. The above-mentioned screw can be used to maintain the measurement of the scale.

• When the sliding scale’s (Vernier scale) zero matches up with the main scale, the student should note down the numeric. The scale is read in the same way one would read a ruler, and if the result comes out between two values, use the lesser one.

• Vernier scale reading is the mark on the Vernier scale that matches up with its main scale counterpart.

• The main scale and Vernier scale readings should be added to get the final answer. To get the right answer, add the two readings being extremely sure of the units.

We hope this article helps you in understanding how the Vernier caliper works and how to use the device to its full potential.

Units & Dimensions – Vernier Calliper’s

Units & Dimensions – Important Questions