How to Use a Meter Stick Properly

A meter stick is a metric measurement tool, very similar to a yardstick, except that it is slightly longer and measures length in meters, centimeters and millimeters rather than feet, inches and fractions of inches. The basic process of using a meter stick is incredibly simple, but there are a few guidelines you can use to get the most precise measurements.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Meter stick

1. Line the meter stick up precisely along the item you wish to measure. Make sure that the edge of your object lines up with the first measurement line (often marked "0") rather than the very edge of the meter stick. In some cases these may be the same, but some meter sticks may have a small margin.

2. Measure the object in centimeters, by looking at the numbered line that most closely corresponds to the far side of the item you wish to measure without going past it. This is the major advantage of meter sticks, in that there's no need to convert units for your basic measurement. You should easily get a single number between 1 and 100, as long as your item is less than 1 meter long.

3. Determine the number of millimeters by counting the tiny lines to the right of your centimeter measurement. For example, if your item is about 10 centimeters long and extends to the second tiny line past the 10 mark, your measurement is 10 centimeters and 2 millimeters.

4. Estimate the next digit past the units marked on your meter stick for standard scientific practice. For example, if the length of your item falls between the first and second millimeter marks, you might estimate a measurement of 1.5 millimeters.

5. Count the number of meter lengths in an item longer than one meter. Line up the meter stick at the beginning of the object, then make a mark or hold your place at the 1 meter (100 centimeter) mark while moving the zero point of the meter stick to this point on your object. Repeat until you can count the number of full meters and also get a centimeter and millimeter measurement for the remainder of the length, as described above.

6. Convert your measurement to the units you desire by moving the decimal point. For example, an object 1 meter, 2 centimeters, and 3.5 millimeters long could be described as 1.235 meters, 102.35 centimeter, or 1023.5 millimeters. Do keep in mind, though, that a meter is 100 centimeters rather than 10. Also, 10 centimeters make 1 decimeter, but this unit is not commonly used.

Tips & Warnings

• For the most accurate measurement of lengths longer than 1 meter, use a measuring tape or other longer measuring tool.

References

• Clemson U. Physics Tutorial: Measuring Devices

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