Definition

Noun: A precision measuring instrument consisting of two jaws and a beam with a main scale and a vernier scale, used to take very fine linear measurements of internal or external dimensions, depth, or step.

Usage

A vernier caliper is used to measure dimensions with high accuracy, typically to within 0.02 mm or 0.001 inches. The user reads the measurement by aligning the main scale with the vernier scale to obtain a precise reading. - The machinist used a vernier caliper to check the diameter of the piston. - For this experiment, you need to measure the thickness of the wire with a vernier caliper.

Advanced Usage

• Digital Vernier Caliper: A modern version that uses an electronic digital display instead of a vernier scale for easier and faster reading.
  • The digital vernier caliper displayed the measurement instantly on its LCD screen.
• Taking a Depth Measurement: The tail of the caliper can be extended to measure the depth of a hole or a step.
  • Use the depth rod on the vernier caliper to find how deep the groove is.

Variants and Related Words

• Caliper (Noun): A broader term for a device used to measure the distance between two opposite sides of an object. A vernier caliper is a specific, more precise type of caliper.
• Micrometer (Noun): Another precision measuring tool, often providing even greater accuracy than a vernier caliper, typically used for smaller measurements.
• Vernier Scale (Noun): The auxiliary scale that slides alongside the main scale, enabling the precise fractional reading that gives the vernier caliper its name.

Synonyms

• Precision caliper
• Vernier gauge (less common)

Notes

• The term "vernier" refers specifically to the secondary scale invented by Pierre Vernier, which allows for interpolation between the marks on the main scale.
• While often called simply a "vernier," the full term "vernier caliper" is more precise to distinguish it from other tools using a vernier scale, such as a vernier height gauge.

Noun

1. a caliper with a vernier scale for very fine measurements