Question

It was known that the actual length of the beam was 6.3 in. The class was asked to measure the beam using different types of measuring tapes. Demetrius's tape was accurate to one-eighth of an inch, so he measured the board to be 6.25 in. What was the experimental error of the measurement? Do not round.

(A) -0.5 in.
(B) -0.05 in.
(C) 0.05 in.
(D) 0.5 in.

Answer 1

The experimental error of Demetrius's measurement, computed by subtracting the measured value from the actual value (6.3 in - 6.25 in), is 0.05 inches, indicating a positive discrepancy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked to calculate the experimental error of a beam measurement. The actual length of the beam is known to be 6.3 inches. Demetrius measured the beam using a tape that is accurate to one-eighth of an inch and recorded the length as 6.25 inches.

To calculate the experimental error, we subtract the measured value from the actual value: 6.3 in - 6.25 in = 0.05 in. Therefore, the experimental error of Demetrius's measurement is 0.05 inches. Since the experimental error is positive, it indicates that the measured value is less than the actual value.

This calculation is similar to comparing different measurements of paper length and evaluating the accuracy of those measurements. Factors that contribute to measurement uncertainty, such as the limitations of the measuring device and the skill of the person taking the measurement, can influence the final reported value.