Question

In a measurement of length, the value reported is 5.00 meters. A more precise measuring device returns 5 digits of precision. Which of the following could be the more precise value of the length?

A) 5.0005 meters
B) 5.050 meters
C) 5.000 meters
D) 5.5 meters

Answer 1

Option A). The more precise value of the length could be 5.0005 meters.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a measurement of length, the value reported is 5.00 meters. A more precise measuring device returns 5 digits of precision. The more precise value of the length could be 5.0005 meters.

The value 5.0005 meters has 4 significant figures, including the initial 5. This means that the measuring device has the capability to measure up to the ten-thousandths place, providing more precision than the initial measurement of 5.00 meters.

However, the level of precision in options B, C, and D is not as high as it was in the original measurement. The extra 0 at the end of Option B, 5.050 meters, indicates a longer length than what was first reported. Option C, which is 5.000 meters, lacks extra digits but has the same level of precision. The measurement in Option D, 5.5 meters, is less accurate than the first measurement because there is only one significant figure.