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The upper scale is in mm and lower scale show intermediate half mm divisions the screw has a pitch of 0.50 mm what reading is shown ?

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Final answer:

The reading shown is 54.5 mm on a screw gauge with a pitch of 0.50 mm. This measurement is accurate to three significant figures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the subject of Physics, specifically to the measurement of length using a screw gauge and understanding significant figures. When measuring with a screw gauge that has a pitch of 0.50 mm, one full rotation advances the screw by 0.50 mm. The upper scale measures whole millimeters, while the lower scale measures half millimeter divisions, allowing for the measurement to be read to the nearest 0.5 mm or even estimated to a closer fraction. If an object's measurement lies precisely between two half millimeter marks, its length should be recorded as the midpoint of those two, ensuring the principle of significant figures is preserved. For instance, if the second arrow points halfway between the fourth and fifth division after the 50 mm mark, the reading is 54.5 mm, resulting in a measurement with three significant figures (3 SF).

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