Final answer:
The micrometer with a pitch of 0.5mm has a finer scale compared to one with a 1.0mm pitch, allowing for more precise measurements due to smaller increments per rotation of the screw.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing the scales of two micrometer screw gauges with pitches of 0.5mm and 1.0mm, it's important to understand that the pitch of a screw gauge refers to the distance between threads on the spindle. Therefore, the micrometer with a pitch of 0.5mm has a finer scale than the one with a pitch of 1.0mm. A finer scale allows for more precise measurements because it can divide the distance into smaller increments. Thus, the smaller the pitch, the smaller the increments, and the more precise the measurement.
The correct answer is: a) The micrometer with a pitch of 0.5mm has a finer scale. This is because each rotation of the screw in the micrometer will move the spindle half as much when compared to the micrometer with a 1.0mm pitch, therefore permitting more precise measurements and divisions.