Question

Why could you not like to use a measuring tape made of an elastic material like rubber to measure distance? What would be some of the problems you would meet in telling someone about a distance you measured with such a tape?

Answer 1

An elastic measuring tape gives an incorrect length of the distance between two points.

Reasons:

• The length of the elastic tape varies and depends upon the force by which it is stretched.
• Measurement would vary between 2 or 3 readings even when measured by the same person and by the same elastic tape.
• Measurement would also vary if different persons measure the same distance.