I have watched a few YouTube tutorials on how to use a vernier caliper but had some difficulties understanding some because the problem was each video had a little difference in the setting of the vernier caliper each time. There were a lot of different models that the tutorials used. Some tutorials used inches to calculate the length of the object while some used centimeters. Some had different measurements and scales on the vernier caliper and there had different ways of calculating the length of the object.
But after watching a few more videos about vernier calipers, I finally found a video that helped me understand how it basically works and the measurements and scales are in metric which makes it easier to understand.
Link here
Link here
From what I have seen from the video, these are the steps on using a vernier caliper:
Step 1: Pick an item you want to measure and make sure that it does not exceed the maximum length that the vernier caliper requires. In this case, the vernier caliper's maximum length is 6 inches or about 15 cm as seen in the picture below:
Step 2: Open the main calipers (which are those calipers I pointed at in the picture below). Put the object in the middle and close it tightly. If there is any lock option on the vernier caliper, it would help to tighten and secure the length in place.
Step 3: Now look closely at the vernier scale and the main scale. (The vernier scale is the slightly smaller scale that the arrow is pointing at below) The 0 point of the vernier scale should point at another measurement on the main scale.
In this case, we can see that the 0 point in the vernier scale is pointing at the 2.1 cm mark on the main scale. Now note down the 2.1 cm mark because it is not accurate enough yet.
Step 4: Now the more complicated part. Look closely at the vernier scale and the main scale again. This time, search for the mark that lines up together perfectly in the main and vernier scale.
The image above shows that the marking is at the 2.2 mark on the vernier scale. That is also another important measurement to note down because it still needs to be calculated to make one whole length.
Step 5: Now that you have gathered all the measurements needed on the vernier caliper, it is now time to calculate the real measurement or length of the object.
Firstly, you need to take the previous measurement made on the vernier scale earlier and divide it by the maximum scale measurement on the vernier scale. In this case, it is 10
Next, you have to take that answer and multiply it with the smallest division of the main scale. Which in this case, is 0.1 cm
Now put it all together and you should get this answer: 0.022 cm
Step 6: Now all you have to do is add those numbers with the measurement you have gotten previously from the main calipers in Step 3: 2.1 cm
Your answer should be 2.122 cm
That's it! It may look complicated but it is easy to get the hang of it.