NICET - Highway Construction Inspection Practice Exam

What unit is typically used to express the error in tape measurement due to temperature?

1. Pounds

2. Feet

3. Inches

4. Degrees

The correct answer is: Feet

The correct unit to express the error in tape measurement due to temperature is typically given in inches. When measuring distances with a tape measure, temperature can affect the length of the tape due to thermal expansion and contraction of the material. As temperatures increase, most materials, including metals used in tape measures, expand, causing the tape to become longer. Conversely, when temperatures drop, these materials contract, leading to a shorter measurement. Engineers and surveyors need to quantify this error to ensure accurate measurements, especially over long distances. The adjustments for temperature changes are generally calculated in inches since this is a common unit of measurement in construction and surveying practices. Using inches provides clarity and practical applicability in field measurements, allowing professionals to easily understand and apply corrections to their measurements based on documented temperature shifts. Other units such as pounds, feet, and degrees do not pertain directly to the measurement errors caused by temperature changes in the context of tape measures.