A Vernier allows a precise reading of some value. The Vernier
moves up and down to measure a position on the Scale. This could
be part of a barometer which reads atmospheric pressure.
The "pointer" is the line on the vernier labelled
"0". Thus the measured position is almost exactly 756 in
whatever units the scale is calibrated in.
If you look closely you will see that the distance between the
divisions on the vernier are not the same as the divisions on the
scale. The 0 line on the vernier lines up at 756 on the scale, but
the 10 line on the vernier lines up at 765 on the scale. Thus the
distance between the divisions on the vernier are 90% of the
distance between the divisions on the scale.
If we do another reading with the vernier at a different position,
the pointer, the line marked 0, may not line up exactly with one
of the lines on the scale. Here the "pointer" lines up
at approximately 756.5 on the scale.
If you look you will see that only one line on the vernier lines
up exactly with one of the lines on the scale, the 5 line. This
means that our first guess was correct: the reading is 756.5.
Here is a final example, with the vernier at yet another position.
The pointer points to a value that is obviously greater than 756.5
and also less than 757.0. Looking for divisions on the vernier
that match a division on the scale, the 7 line matches fairly
closely. So the reading is about 756.7.
In fact, the 7 line on the vernier appears to be a little bit
above the corresponding line on the scale. The 8 line on the
vernier is clearly somewhat below the corresponding line of the
scale. So with sharp eyes one might report this reading as 756.73
± 0.02.
This "reading error" of ± 0.02 is probably the correct
error of precision to specify for all measurements done with this
apparatus.
Now we shall use a simulation of a Vernier Caliper. A caliper
measures a length, and in the following figure we show a caliper
being used to measure the length of an Object. The Object will be
placed between the "jaws" of the caliper. The Object is
almost exactly 75 mm (2.95 in) long.
On the top of the caliper are two "prongs" which can be
used to measure an interior dimension. There is also a piece of
metal sticking out from the right side of the caliper, which is a
depth gauge.