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

An elastic measuring tape gives the incorrect length of the distance between two points.
Reasons:
(i) The length of the elastic tape varies and depends upon the force by which it is stretched.
(ii) Measurement would vary between 2 or 3 readings even when measured by the same person and by the same elastic tape.
(iii) Measurement would also vary if different persons measure the same distance.

While measuring distance using an elastic measuring tape, the tape stretches under the external force applied to it and thus we will get the lesser value of the distance than the actual value. Thus we cannot tell someone about the correct value of the distance but we will be telling him the lesser value of the distance than the actual value.