US Customary

Measurement System

Introduction to Engineering Design

2012 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

The U S Customary System

System of measurement used in the United
States
Similar to the British Imperial System of
Measurement, but not identical
Common U S Customary Units
Measurement

Symbol

Unit

in.

inch

ft

foot

mi

mile

mass

slug

slug

force

lb

pound

time

second

thermodynamic
temperature

Fahrenheit degree

length

Common Items: Size Comparison

Recording Measurements
A measurement always includes units
A measurement always includes error
A measurement is the best estimate of a quantity
Scientists and engineers often use significant digits to
indicate the uncertainty of a measurement

Indicate the accuracy and precision of your

measurement

Precision and Accuracy

Precision (repeatability) = The degree to which
repeated measurements show the same result
Accuracy = The degree of closeness of
measurements of a quantity to the actual (or
accepted) value

High Accuracy
Low Precision

Low Accuracy
High Precision

High Accuracy
High Precision

Recording Measurements
Ideally, a measurement device is both accurate
and precise
Accuracy is dependent on calibration to a
standard
Precision is dependent on the characteristics
and/or capabilities of the measuring device and
its use
Record only to the precision to which you and your
measuring device can measure

Significant Digits

Accepted practice in science is to indicate uncertainty of

measurement

Significant digits are digits in a decimal number that

carry meaning contributing to the uncertainty of the
quantity

The digits you record for a measurement are

considered significant

Include all certain digits in a measurement and one

uncertain digit

Note: Fractions are fuzzy numbers in which

significant digits are not directly indicated

Recording Measurements
General Rules
Digital Instruments: Read and record all the numbers,
including zeros after the decimal point, exactly as
displayed
Decimal Scaled Instruments: Record all digits that
you can certainly determine from the scale markings
and estimate one more digit
Preferred over fractional scaled instruments

Fractional Scaled Instruments: Need special

consideration

Fractional Length Measurement

A typical ruler provides
A 12 inch graduated scale in US Customary units
Each inch is graduated into smaller divisions, typically
1/16 increments

The Inch
The divisions on the U S Customary units
scale are easily identified by different
sized markings. The largest markings on
the scale identify the inch.

The Inch
Each subsequently shorter tick mark
indicates half of the distance between next
longer tick marks.
For example the next smaller tick mark indicates half
of an inch = inch

1/2

The Inch
Half of a half = inch. An English scale
shows inch and inch marks.
All fractions must be reduced to lowest
terms.

1/4

3/4

The Inch
Half of a quarter = 1/8 inch

1/8

3/8

5/8

7/8

The Inch
Half of an eighth = 1/16 inch
1/16
5/16 9/16 13/16
3/16
7/16 11/16 15/16

Measurement: Using a Fractional Scale

How long is the rectangle?
Lets look a little closer

Measurement: Using a Fractional Scale

How long is the rectangle?
What fraction of an inch does this mark
represent?

3/16
1/4 1/2

1/8

Measurement: Using a Fractional Scale

How long is the rectangle?

What is the
midpoint of 2 1/8
and 2 3/16?

5/32

1/8

3/16

Measurement: Using a Fractional Scale

How do we determine that 5/32 is midway
between 1/8 and 3/16?
Convert each fraction to a common
denominator: 32

Find the average

of the two
measurements

Recording a Measurement: Using a

Fractional Scale
How long is the rectangle?
Remember the General Rule
Fractional Scaled Instruments require special
consideration

Are 6 significant digits appropriate???

1/16 in. = .0625 in.

Recording a Measurement: Using a

Fractional Scale
For the standard ruler marked in 1/16 inch
increments (least count = 1/16 in.)
Record fraction measurements to the
nearest 1/32 inch 2 5 in.
32
Record decimal equivalent to the nearest
hundredths of an inch 2.16 in.
Record with your data
The least count of the scale (1/16 in.)
The increment to which measurements are
estimated (nearest 1/32 in.)

Your Turn

Record each measurement in fractional

and decimal inches.