On the Inaccuracy of the Cloth Tape-Measure

Abstract

1. The author had opportunities of examiniing 402 tape-measures regularly in use in254 primary schools in the physical examination. Nearly all of them proved to be in an erroneusly contracted state.
2. D istribution of the errors for 1m. marking in 253 2-metre tapes was plotted in Fig. 2. The abscissae represent errors in mm, and the ordinates the numbers of tapes carrying the corresponding error.
3. Possible process of development of the contraction of the taoe-measure with the time was discussed.
4. Importance of checking the accuracy of the tape-measure before use was emphasized.