SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS
AVG
SPEED
USING THE TACHOMETER
The variable tachometer enables one to determine an average speed whatever
the distance covered, the time elapsed or the speed reached. It is however an
approximate measurement device.
The variable tachometer is composed of a fixed scale (a) and a mobile scale or
disc (b). The fixed scale is read off clockwise, and the mobile disc in the opposite
direction. The graduations between two numbers represent tenths of units. To
read off a result, the decimal point must be placed correctly. For example, the
figure 3.2 may represent 0.32, 3.2, 32, 320, etc. The fixed scale comprises three
reference marks:
SECONDS (1) on the figure 3.6 (one hour equals 3,600 seconds);
G
MINUTES (2) on the figure 6 (one hour equals 60 minutes);
G
HOURS (3) on the figure 1 (one hour is the base unit for all calculations).
G
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2
1
3
a
1.1 Mode of operation
lways place the distance covered opposite the reference mark serving as the
basis for the calculation:
on SE ONDS if the interval is measured in seconds;
G
on MINUTES if the interval is measured in minutes;
G
on HOURS if the interval is measured in hours.
G
N.B. The time measured using the chronograph must be converted if necessary
into seconds, minutes or hours to correspond to one of the three reference marks
on the fixed scale. For example: 1 minute 20 seconds = 80 seconds; 1 hour 10 mi-
nutes = 70 minutes, etc.
(a) Fixed scale
(b) Mobile scale (disc)
b
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