The sensitivity of a measuring instrument is the value of the smallest quantity that can be read or estimated with it. What is the smallest part of a centimeter that can be read with the following?

Question

(a) a meterstick with markings at each millimeter
I tried
.01 mm
.05 mm
.1 mm
.01cm

all wrong..
(b) a digital caliper with a four-digit display
I tried
.0001 in
.01 mm
.01 in
all wrong as well

Answer 1

For a I would think it could be estimated to the nearest 0.5 mm which is 0.05 cm.

For b, the problem doesn't say what the digits mean; i.e., four-digit display of what length? If it is 1234 then it can be read to 1 in the last place, whatever that last place is.

Answer 2

the caliper is .0005 cm

Answer 3

I know the first one can be .5mm

Answer 4

I just had the same question, and the 1st one is .05 cm, and the second is .0005 cm.