Question

You find a micrometer (a tool used to measure objects to the nearest 0.01 mm) that has been badly bent. How would it compare to a new, high-quality meterstick in terms of its precision? Its accuracy?

Answer 1

The bent micrometer would be less accurate but more precise compared to the new meterstick.

Step-by-step explanation:

When comparing the badly bent micrometer to a new, high-quality meterstick in terms of precision, the meterstick would be more precise. Precision refers to the ability of a measuring tool to measure values in small increments. The micrometer, even though it has been badly bent, can still measure to the nearest 0.01 mm, while the meterstick can only measure to the nearest millimeter. Therefore, the micrometer is more precise in terms of measurement.

However, accuracy refers to how close a measured value is to the true value. In this case, the badly bent micrometer would be less accurate compared to the new, high-quality meterstick. Since the micrometer is bent, it may not provide accurate measurements as it may not be aligned properly. On the other hand, the new meterstick is expected to be accurate as long as it is calibrated correctly.