Instruments are used to read a range of measurements such as length, weight, volume and temperature.
The important points to note when reading from dials are:
which way round to read the dial: clockwise/anticlockwise, left/right or up/down
determine the scale: what are the major and minor values
confirm what the dial is reading eg feet or metres.
A submarine depth gauge is shown. What is the depth to the keel?
Read to the 40, then read the additional 7 small marks for 47.
The gauge is read in metres, so the distance is 47 metres.
Answer: 47 metres
What is the reading on the gauge, below?
Find the scale is going up in value as you read left to right.
Reading from zero and going left (and decreasing) is 4 steps, which gives -4.
The gauge is reading a temperature in degrees Celsius.
Answer: -4 ℃