NICET - Highway Construction Inspection Practice Exam

What effect does temperature have on the measurement of a steel tape?

1. Increases accuracy

2. Causes the tape to elongate

3. Shortens the tape's measured length

4. Has no effect

The correct answer is: Shortens the tape's measured length

The measurement of a steel tape is affected by temperature primarily because materials tend to expand when heated and contract when cooled. When a steel tape is subjected to higher temperatures, it will elongate, causing the measured length to appear longer than it actually is if not properly corrected for temperature changes. Conversely, at lower temperatures, the tape contracts, potentially leading to shorter measurements than the actual distance. Understanding this thermal expansion is critical for achieving accurate measurements in construction and engineering applications. It’s important for inspectors and surveyors to account for temperature when using steel tapes to ensure the integrity of their measurements, especially over long distances or in varying weather conditions. For these reasons, the correct answer highlights the elongation caused by temperature variations, emphasizing how temperature can impact the accuracy of measurements by altering the physical dimensions of the material being used.