Final answer:
Scalar meter reads are often analog, meaning they represent data continuously, while interval meter reads are digital, showing data in discrete numerical intervals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scalar meter reads are often analog, while interval meter reads are often digital. This can be understood by considering the nature of these measurements. An analog meter, like those with a galvanometer, reads out in a continuously varying fashion, just like an analog clock with hands uses continuous motion to display time. Digital meters, on the other hand, display readings in a discrete, numerical format, similar to a digital clock that jumps from one number to the next without showing the in-between states.
Analog meters use a physical process where current flowing through a galvanometer causes a pointer to swivel and point at numbers on a scale, representing a continuous spectrum of values. Digital meters use an analog-to-digital converter to turn these analog signals into a digital readout, displaying intervals of values as separate, discrete digits. These principles illustrate the key difference between analog and digital readings in measurement instruments.