Final answer:
Direct comparison is a measurement method that compares the dimension of an object to that of a known reference to determine the difference.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term Direct comparison measures the difference between an object's dimension and an object of known length. This method is used to obtain measurements using a known reference item. For instance, if your hand measures 10 cm across, you can determine how many hand lengths equal the width of your desk.
Measurement in engineering and physics often requires precision and accuracy. The degree to which a measured value agrees with an accepted reference value is known as accuracy. Moreover, conversion factors and dimensional analysis are important when converting different units of measurement.