Pressure measurement — categories of relative measurement: Select the correct trio that names the common categories: absolute pressure, gauge pressure, and differential pressure.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: absolute, gauge, and differential

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Pressure instruments are specified by how they reference pressure. Understanding the categories helps in selecting suitable sensors and interpreting datasheets. The standard categories are absolute, gauge, and differential—each referencing a different baseline pressure.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Absolute pressure: referenced to an absolute vacuum.
  • Gauge pressure: referenced to ambient atmospheric pressure (often labeled psig or barg).
  • Differential pressure: the difference between two arbitrary points.


Concept / Approach:
Absolute sensors include an internal vacuum reference; gauge sensors vent one side to atmosphere; differential sensors have two ports and output the difference. Variants like barometric sensors are special cases of absolute or gauge measurement, but the primary taxonomy remains the absolute/gauge/differential triad.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Identify the recognized category names from standards and datasheets.Eliminate distractors that are not standard (e.g., “reflective,” “exact”).Select the trio “absolute, gauge, and differential.”Confirm that these cover the common industrial use-cases.


Verification / Alternative check:
Transducer catalogs list part numbers with suffixes -A (absolute), -G (gauge), -D (differential). Calibration procedures and labeling on process transmitters use the same categories.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • “Exact/reflective/referenced”: Nonstandard terms for pressure categories.
  • “Absolute, exact, and differential”: “Exact” is not a pressure reference type.
  • “Absolute, gauge, and reflective”: “Reflective” relates to optics, not pressure referencing.
  • Barometric/vacuum/osmotic: Mixed concepts; not the standard taxonomy for sensor types.


Common Pitfalls:
Confusing measurement category with range (e.g., vacuum vs. positive pressure) or with sensing technology (piezoresistive, capacitive, etc.).


Final Answer:
absolute, gauge, and differential.

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