24-07-2014, 06:38 PM
Just a follow-on from Mark's post #12.
In the 'The Radio Laboratory Handbook', by M.G. Scroggie, B.Sc., M.I.E.E., (6th. ed, 1954), M.G.S. has a chapter devoted to 'The Fundamental Principles of Measurement'. It is a thought-provoking chapter, and in my opinion, this chapter should be read by anyone who is involved in any aspect of Engineering, not just electronics. The sub-sections of this chapter include the following:
Measurement versus Guesswork,
False Assumptions,
Direct Observation or Instrument Readings ?,
Disentangling the Conclusions,
Personal Errors,
Reproducing Working Conditions,
and
Accuracy and Precision.
In that last-named sub-section, M.G.S. provides an interesting comparison of, and the difference between, accuracy and precision.
Apart from all that, this book, although now quite dated with obsolete circuits & specific measurement techniques, does illustrate the attitude and mind-set of a capable and trained engineer. Its title is a bit misleading, since throughout the whole of the text, the Philosophy of Engineering is subtly entrenched. It's not just about 'The Laboratory': it's also about who does what, why and how in that laboratory. It's a very good read by any set of standards and, in my opinion, should be in every electronics engineer's book-case.
Al.
In the 'The Radio Laboratory Handbook', by M.G. Scroggie, B.Sc., M.I.E.E., (6th. ed, 1954), M.G.S. has a chapter devoted to 'The Fundamental Principles of Measurement'. It is a thought-provoking chapter, and in my opinion, this chapter should be read by anyone who is involved in any aspect of Engineering, not just electronics. The sub-sections of this chapter include the following:
Measurement versus Guesswork,
False Assumptions,
Direct Observation or Instrument Readings ?,
Disentangling the Conclusions,
Personal Errors,
Reproducing Working Conditions,
and
Accuracy and Precision.
In that last-named sub-section, M.G.S. provides an interesting comparison of, and the difference between, accuracy and precision.
Apart from all that, this book, although now quite dated with obsolete circuits & specific measurement techniques, does illustrate the attitude and mind-set of a capable and trained engineer. Its title is a bit misleading, since throughout the whole of the text, the Philosophy of Engineering is subtly entrenched. It's not just about 'The Laboratory': it's also about who does what, why and how in that laboratory. It's a very good read by any set of standards and, in my opinion, should be in every electronics engineer's book-case.
Al.
