CCIL Laboratory Equipment Calibration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a calibration certificate issued after instrument calibration?
- To document traceability to national or international measurement standards (Correct answer)
- To authorize the instrument for export
- To confirm the instrument passed a visual inspection
- To record the serial number for insurance purposes
Correct answer: To document traceability to national or international measurement standards
A calibration certificate documents that the instrument's measurements are traceable to recognized national or international standards, ensuring measurement integrity.
Question 2: Which term describes the closeness of repeated measurements under the same conditions to each other?
- Accuracy
- Precision (Correct answer)
- Bias
- Resolution
Correct answer: Precision
Precision refers to the repeatability or reproducibility of measurements; accurate instruments are both precise and close to the true value.
Question 3: In calibration, what does 'measurement uncertainty' quantify?
- The probability that the instrument will fail during use
- The doubt about the validity of a measurement result (Correct answer)
- The maximum allowable calibration interval
- The cost of recalibration
Correct answer: The doubt about the validity of a measurement result
Measurement uncertainty is a parameter that characterizes the dispersion of values that could reasonably be attributed to the measurand.
Question 4: A laboratory balance is found to read 0.05 g high across its entire range. This type of error is called:
- Random error
- Systematic error (Correct answer)
- Gross error
- Resolution error
Correct answer: Systematic error
A consistent offset across the measurement range is a systematic error, which can often be corrected through calibration adjustment.
Question 5: Which organization provides Canada's primary reference standards for physical measurements?
- CCIL
- NRC — National Research Council Canada (Correct answer)
- Health Canada
- Standards Council of Canada
Correct answer: NRC — National Research Council Canada
The National Research Council Canada (NRC) is Canada's national metrology institute, maintaining primary measurement standards.
Question 6: When calibrating a pH meter, what is the minimum number of buffer solutions typically required to achieve a two-point calibration?
- 1
- 2 (Correct answer)
- 3
- 4
Correct answer: 2
A two-point calibration requires exactly two buffer solutions to define slope and offset of the pH electrode response.
Question 7: What is the significance of calibration 'as-found' data recorded before any adjustment is made?
- It determines the purchase price of the instrument
- It provides a historical record of instrument drift and performance before correction (Correct answer)
- It is used to set the calibration interval only
- It verifies the identity of the calibration technician
Correct answer: It provides a historical record of instrument drift and performance before correction
As-found data captures the instrument's condition prior to adjustment, enabling drift analysis and informing calibration interval decisions.
CCIL Laboratory Equipment Calibration 2
What is the primary purpose of a calibration certificate issued after instrument calibration?