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Precise Length Measurement

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Precise Length Measurement

Choose the best answer where options are given. Show units with every measurement and explain your reasoning where asked.

Choosing tools and recording measurements

1.Which tool is most suitable for measuring the width of a classroom?

A 15 cm ruler
A tape measure
A protractor
A set of scales

2.A ruler has its smallest marks at 1 mm intervals. To what smallest unit can you directly read a length on this ruler?

1 cm
1 mm
1 m
0.1 mm

3.Select all the actions that help produce a reliable ruler measurement.

Line one end of the object up with the zero mark.
Look straight down at the scale when reading it.
Write the measurement with its unit.
Read the scale from an angle to see more of the ruler.

4.Which option records a length correctly using the usual SI symbol for centimetres?

8.45
8.45 cm
cm 8.45
8.45 cms

Reading, rounding and comparing lengths

5.The marked point on the scale shows a length in centimetres. Record the measurement.

6.A strip of card is 18.6 cm long. What is its length rounded to the nearest centimetre?

7.In your own words, distinguish accuracy from precision when taking length measurements.

8.A notebook is measured three times as 21.6 cm, 21.7 cm and 21.5 cm. Find the mean measurement and state it to the nearest 0.1 cm.

9.A table is 1.24 m long. Convert its length to centimetres.

10.Match each measuring situation to the most appropriate tool.

Measuring the length of a small screw to the nearest millimetre
Measuring the curved outside edge of a large bowl
Measuring the length of a long, straight sports court
Measuring the diameter of a tiny wire

Flexible tape measure
Micrometer
Long tape measure
Millimetre-marked ruler

Applying measurement methods

11.Describe a careful method for measuring the width of a door using a suitable length-measuring tool. Include how you would position the tool, read it and record the result.

12.A flexible cord is shaped into a winding curve. Explain how you could measure the curve's length using a ruler and another simple item.

13.A metal rod has an accepted length of 50.0 cm. Four measurements are 49.9 cm, 50.0 cm, 50.1 cm and 52.4 cm. Identify the outlier and calculate the mean of the three consistent readings.