If a thermometer is calibrated to the nearset degree, what part of a degree can you estimate the temperature it measures?
Doesn't it depend upon the spacing of the degree marks.
Spaced like this ||
or like this |     |
would make a difference, wouldn't it?
For the usual spacing I have seen for a thermometer for use in a lab, I would think about 0.5 degree for one that reads -10 to 360 C.
You are correct, the spacing of the degree marks on a thermometer does play a role in estimating the temperature it measures. The spacing determines the precision or accuracy of the thermometer's readings.
In the case of a thermometer calibrated to the nearest degree, we can estimate the temperature to within half a degree. Let me explain how:
1. Determine the range of temperatures the thermometer can measure. For example, let's say the thermometer reads temperatures from -10 to 360 degrees Celsius.
2. Divide the range by the number of intervals between the degree marks. In this case, let's assume 370 intervals for simplicity (360 degrees +10 degrees).
3. Divide the interval by 2 to estimate the precision. In this case, 10 degrees divided by 2 gives us 5 degrees.
Therefore, for this specific thermometer, you can estimate the temperature it measures within approximately 0.5 degrees Celsius. Keep in mind that this estimation assumes the degree marks are evenly spaced.
Note: The example spacing you provided ("||" or "| |") doesn't affect the estimation. It's the number of intervals and the overall range that determine the precision.