A pipe is measured once with a steel tape with markings every .1mm.The two ends of the pipe line up with the 0 and 40-m marks onthe tape. How should this datum be recorded using theappropriate number of significant figures? exolain how you figured it out
To determine how the measurement of the pipe should be recorded using the appropriate number of significant figures, we need to consider the precision of the measuring device and the known values in the measurement.
In this case, the steel tape has markings every 0.1mm. This means that the smallest interval that can be accurately measured is 0.1mm.
Given that the two ends of the pipe line up with the 0 and 40-m marks on the tape, we know the length of the pipe is between 0m and 40m.
Now, let's analyze the significant figures involved in this measurement. Significant figures represent the meaningful and precise digits in a measured value.
Since the steel tape has markings every 0.1mm, it implies that each reading can be taken to the nearest 0.1mm. Therefore, the precision of the measurement is 0.1mm, and any recorded measurement should reflect this precision.
Considering the given values, the pipe can be measured between 0m and 40m, but we know the tape only provides precision to the tenth of a millimeter. Hence, recording the pipe measurement as 40.0000m would not be appropriate.
Instead, since the tape only goes up to 40m, the measurement should be rounded to the nearest marking on the tape. This means we should look for the largest marking on the tape which is less than or equal to the end of the pipe.
In this case, since the pipe aligns with the 40m marking, we should record the measurement as 40.0m. This indicates that the pipe is between 40m and 41m, but we cannot provide any further precision beyond the tenth of a millimeter given by the tape.
Therefore, the appropriate recording of the measurement would be 40.0m, using three significant figures to reflect the precision of the measuring device.