# Physical test

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{{Short description|Type of product test in quality assurance}}A '''physical test''' is a [qualitative](/source/qualitative_property) or [quantitative](/source/Quantitative_property) procedure that consists of determination of one or more characteristics of a given product, process or service according to a specified procedure.<ref>[ASTM](/source/ASTM) E 1301, Standard Guide for Proficiency Testing by Interlaboratory Comparisons</ref> Often this is part of an [experiment](/source/experiment).

'''Physical testing''' is common in [physics](/source/physics), [engineering](/source/engineering), and [quality assurance](/source/quality_assurance).

==Purposes==
Physical testing might have a variety of purposes, such as:
* if, or verify that, the requirements of a [specification](/source/specification), [regulation](/source/regulation), or [contract](/source/contract) are met
* Decide if a [new product development](/source/new_product_development) program is on track: Demonstrate [proof of concept](/source/proof_of_concept)
* Demonstrate the utility of a proposed [patent](/source/patent)
* Provide [standard](/source/Technical_standard) [data](/source/data) for other scientific, engineering, and [quality assurance](/source/quality_assurance) functions
* Validate suitability for end-use
* Provide a basis for  [Technical communication](/source/Technical_communication)
* Provide a technical means of comparison of several options
* Provide [evidence](/source/evidence) in legal proceedings

==Performance testing==
Some physical testing is ''performance testing'' which covers a wide range of engineering or functional evaluations where a material, product, or system is not specified by detailed material or component specifications. Rather, emphasis is on the final measurable performance characteristics. Testing can be a [qualitative](/source/qualitative_data) or [quantitative](/source/Quantitative_data) procedure.
Many [acceptance testing](/source/acceptance_testing) protocols employ performance testing e.g. In the stress testing of a new design of chair.

===Examples of performance testing===
* [Structural testing](/source/Structural_testing): building and [Construction](/source/Construction) Performance Testing
* [Fire protection](/source/Fire_protection) ([ASTM](/source/ASTM) D176)
* [Packaging](/source/Packaging) Performance ([hazardous materials](/source/hazardous_materials), [dangerous goods](/source/dangerous_goods), [ASTM](/source/ASTM) D4169) 
* Performance Index for [Tire](/source/Tire)s ([ASTM](/source/ASTM) F538)
* Performance Test Code on Compressors and Exhausters ([ASME](/source/ASME) PTC 10 - 1997)
* [Personal protective equipment](/source/Personal_protective_equipment) performance
* Several [Defense Standard](/source/Defense_Standard)s
* Wear of Textiles ([ASTM](/source/ASTM) D123)

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Three point flexural test.jpg| [Test fixture](/source/Test_fixture) on [universal testing machine](/source/universal_testing_machine)
File:US Navy 070409-N-3038W-002 Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Rene Tovar adjusts a connection point on a fixture hydraulic supply servo cylinder test station in the hydraulics shop aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier U.jpg|Hydraulic system testing
File:Drop test haz-mat.jpg|Drop test of [shipping container](/source/shipping_container) for missile
File:ISEE-C_(ISEE_3)_in_dynamic_test_chamber.jpg|Engineers in [NASA](/source/NASA) dynamic test chamber
File:Honda Fit - Impact Still.jpg| [Crash test](/source/Crash_test) of car striking a wall
File:Cmp test 10.jpg|Fire testing materials and structures
</gallery>

==See also==
* [Environmental chamber](/source/Environmental_chamber)
* [Test method](/source/Test_method)
*[Independent test organization](/source/Independent_test_organization)
*[Measurement uncertainty](/source/Measurement_uncertainty)

==References==
{{reflist}}
* Pyzdek, T, "Quality Engineering Handbook", 2003, {{ISBN|0-8247-4614-7}} 
* Godfrey, A. B., "Juran's Quality Handbook", 1999, {{ISBN|007034003X}}

Category:Metrology
Category:Measurement
Category:Quality control
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Category:Product testing

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Physical test](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_test) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_test?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.