Hand levels, such as bubble levels, determine if an object is level with gravity. Spirit levels are the most common type, with two designs: pans and tubes. Electronic versions exist but bubble levels remain popular due to their simplicity and low cost.
Levels are used to find out if an object is level with another reference point. A hand level is a level small enough to fit in the user’s hand. This is in contrast to stationary levels, such as those used by surveyors, which require tripods or mounting to operate. The most common form of hand level is called a bubble level and determines whether an object is level in relation to gravity.
The levels all orientate on something to find out if something else is level related. Most manual levels work based on the object’s relationship to gravity. Essentially, they see if the surface being checked is perpendicular to starboard. More complex layers can control surfaces in relation to other objects and directions. These tasks are often too difficult for a mere hand level.
Spirit levels are the most common form of hand level in use. These levels look like little tubes or plates with a bubble inside. The bubble moves along the tube to show the relationships of the levels down. They’re called spirit levels because they’re typically filled with an artificially colored alcohol, such as ethanol, to allow the bubble to move more freely.
There are two main designs for levels: pans and tubes. The flat-style level is a round container filled with alcohol that is meant to be looked down upon. When the user looks down at the top of the layer, there is a series of circles that give the layer a bullseye-like appearance. There is also a free-floating bubble within the liquid. A tube-style hand level simply has a small tube that sits parallel to the ground; it also has a floating bubble and a number of markings.
The bubble is in the center of the tube or dish when the level is perpendicular to gravity. A pipe level measures the underlying slope in two directions, the axis of the pipe. The plate style measures in four directions, basically a plus sign axis. In both cases, the additional lines on the measurement surface help the user see exactly how close the bubble is to center or how close the surface is to level.
In recent years, an electronic version of the spirit level has come onto the market. These devices contain two small tubes inside a plastic housing. The device measures the positions of the materials within these tubes and displays the exact angle of the underlying surface. While they are much more accurate, the simplicity and low cost of the common bubble level keeps them the most popular style of hand level.
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