Re: 20th century

[Peter Schoch <pschoch@NAC.NET>]

The same way machinists use them.  You ASSUME wear in the jaws, and that
they are innacurate to start.  You close them and take a "zero
measurement", and then adjust every other measurement accordingly.  The
reason this doesn't work with rulers or tapes is that theie inaccuracy is
harder to "see".

Sheesh, this is everything I teach in the first lab in Physics I.  Am I the
only one left who is teaching how to "properly" use their measuring
devices?

Peter Schoch

Clarence Bennett wrote:

> > Clarence said: "Similarly, if I measure a length, I don't put the 1"
> > mark of my ruler at
> > one end of it."
> >
> > I do. I was taught, way back in undergrad, lower division days, to use
> > the 1 cm mark and subtract because one could not trust that the end of
> > the meter stick, ruler, scale, etc. had not been damages and
> > foreshortened from use.
> >
> > Ray Rogoway
> How do you use your vernier caliper?
>
> Clarence Bennett
> Oakland University
> Rochester, Michigan 48309
> 248 370 3418
> http://www.acs.oakland.edu/physics/staff_info/Bennett.htm