What is the smallest reading on a Vernier micrometer?

What is the smallest reading on a Vernier micrometer?

• A. 0.0001 in
• B. 0.001 in
• C. 0.01 in
• D. 0.0005 in

Answer: (A)

Vernier micrometers get finer by combining a main scale with a Vernier (thimble) scale. The main scale reads in thousandths of an inch (0.001 in). The Vernier scale is laid out so that ten divisions cover one main-scale division, making each Vernier division equal to 0.0001 in. When a line on the Vernier aligns with a line on the main scale, that alignment indicates how many of those 0.0001 in steps are present. Add this to the main-scale reading, giving a measurement to the ten-thousandth of an inch. That’s why the smallest reading is 0.0001 in.

Vernier micrometers get finer by combining a main scale with a Vernier (thimble) scale. The main scale reads in thousandths of an inch (0.001 in). The Vernier scale is laid out so that ten divisions cover one main-scale division, making each Vernier division equal to 0.0001 in. When a line on the Vernier aligns with a line on the main scale, that alignment indicates how many of those 0.0001 in steps are present. Add this to the main-scale reading, giving a measurement to the ten-thousandth of an inch. That’s why the smallest reading is 0.0001 in.