Measuring Length
Physics: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 1.1.1
Measuring Length
We normally measure length using a ruler.
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Method
- When using a ruler, it is important to line up the object with the start of the divisions on the ruler.
- To avoid parallax errors (when your eyes and the scale are not lined up), we should read the ruler at right angles.
Measuring very small lengths 1
- A ruler is not suitable for measuring very small lengths, such as the thickness of a sheet of paper.
- To work out the thickness of one sheet of paper, we can stack together lots of sheets so that the total thickness of the stack can be accurately measured with a ruler.
- The average thickness of one sheet of paper is the total thickness of the stack divided by the number of sheets in the stack.
Test yourself on Measuring Length
Which of these is not a way of measuring length?
Which of the following are true of length measurement?