Question

Why should you not use an elastic measuring tape to measure distances? What would be some of the problems you would face in telling someone about a distance you measured with an elastic tape?

Answer 1

Hint: We know that elastic is the material that changes its shapes when an external force is applied to it. So, the elastic tap as this will give us a different result after every measurement.

Compete for step by step answer
It is asked in the question why we should not use an elastic measuring tape to measure distance.
We know that elastic is the material that changes its shapes when an external force is applied to it. So, while measuring the distance when we starch the elastic tape to get the most accurate measurement the length of the elastic tape changes gradually this will give us different values each time and we get the incorrect result after every measurement.
Some of the problem faced by us while using the elastic tape to measure the distance are –
1. As the elastic tape keeps changing its shape i.e., the length when comes under any external force, so we get different values of the same distance after every measurement.
2. The measurement value always varies even if the same person measures the same distance with the same tap. Because of the elastic nature of the tape, we get the leaser value of the distance from what it is actually.
So, we cannot measure the distance from the elastic tap as this will give us a different result after every measurement, therefore, it is strictly prohibited for distance measuring purposes.

Note:
As the elastic tape starches under any external force so, while measuring the tap will starch and we will get the lesser value of the distance from the actual value. Generally, the measuring tape is made up of cloths, plastics, fiberglass, or a metal strip that does not change its length under some small external force.