Measurement of length by ruler

Posts : 1 Join date : 2012-09-16

The smallest increment for the ruler is 1/16 in, should we read maybe 5/16+1/32 when the size is within the middle of two consecutive scales? Or just 5/16 (the nearest scale)?
Also the same problem for the thermometer.

Admin Posts : 126 Join date : 2012-08-30

You've got the right idea...essentially, the smallest measurement you can reasonably get using the human eye is halfway between the gradations. Anything more fine than that (1/3 or 1/4 of the way between gradations) is probably not a meaningful measurement.

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