The most common type of pressure gauge is the Bourdon Tube.

• A. Piston
• B. Linkage
• C. Bourdon Tube
• D. Temperature

Answer: (C)

Measuring pressure effectively comes down to turning the force of fluid pressure into a readable motion. A Bourdon tube does this with a simple, robust mechanism: it’s a curved, hollow tube that tends to straighten when internal pressure rises. That straightening motion is transferred through a linkage to rotate a needle on a dial. Because this design is mechanical, it is rugged, inexpensive, and can handle a wide range of pressures without needing electronics or complex parts. That combination—simplicity, durability, and broad suitability—makes it the most common type used in many industries.

Piston gauges, while highly accurate and great for calibration tasks, are more intricate and typically used where precise dead-weight testing is needed, not as a general-purpose gauge. A standalone “linkage” isn’t itself a complete gauge type; it’s part of the mechanism inside some gauges. Temperature, of course, is a different measurement entirely and does not measure pressure.