= Scientific instrument
{wiki}
A <scientific instrument> converts a physical interaction into an observable indication under a stated <measurement model>. An <ionization chamber> converts deposited <energy> into collected <electric charge>; a <telescope> collects incoming <electromagnetic radiation>; a <force probe> converts a mechanical load into a calibrated response.
An indication is not yet the desired <measurand>. The instrument's response, <measurement resolution>, <measurement calibration> and <measurement uncertainty> determine what can be inferred. Changing a controlled input and comparing with a reference is often more revealing than reading the same display repeatedly: it tests whether the instrument is responding to the intended quantity or to an unwanted influence.
Back to article page
