Question

making measurements
thermometer
consider the following thermometer, and use it to answer the question.
the calibration of this thermometer is 1°c.
recall that a single unit calibration allows us to estimate one additional digit in the measurement.
what place value should the temperature be recorded to?
0.01°c
0.1°c
1°c
10°c

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze Thermometer Calibration

The thermometer has markings (e.g., between 20 and 30 °C). Let's assume the major divisions (like 10, 20, 30) are in 10 °C increments, and between them, the minor divisions: from the image, between 20 and 30, how many small divisions? Let's see, if between 20 and 30, there are 10 small divisions, each major division (10 °C) is split into 10, so each small division is \( \frac{10}{10}=1 \) °C? Wait, no, wait. Wait, the problem says "a single unit calibration allows us to estimate one additional digit". Wait, maybe the major marks are, say, 10, 20, 30 (each 10 °C apart), and between 20 and 30, how many intervals? Let's check the thermometer: the orange liquid is up to some point. Wait, the key is: the calibration (the smallest marked unit) – if the smallest marked division is 1 °C, then with estimation, we can go to one decimal place (0.1 °C). Wait, let's think: when taking measurements, the place value is determined by the smallest division and estimation. If the thermometer's smallest marked division is 1 °C (e.g., between 20 and 30, 10 divisions, so each is 1 °C), then we can estimate to the tenths place (0.1 °C) because we can estimate one additional digit. So the temperature should be recorded to the 0.1 °C place.

Step2: Evaluate Options

• 0.01 °C: Too precise, since the smallest division is likely 1 °C, estimation to hundredths is not needed.
• 0.1 °C: Since we can estimate one digit beyond the smallest marked unit (if smallest is 1 °C, estimate to 0.1 °C).
• 1 °C: Just the marked unit, but we can estimate one more digit.
• 10 °C: Too large, the marks are finer than 10 °C.

Answer:

0.1°C