Least count of a stopwatch
An ordinary stopwatch shows 0.1 s and a digital one 0.01 s, and that is its least count.
Least count
0.1s
0.1 s
Least count = the smallest time the stopwatch shows.
Least count = the smallest time the stopwatch shows
A stopwatch is used for short time intervals, such as the time period of a pendulum. The working for the textbook numbers is 0.1 s.
Other instruments
Stopwatch: quick answers
What is the least count of a stopwatch?
An ordinary stopwatch shows 0.1 s and a digital one 0.01 s, and that is its least count. Least count = the smallest time the stopwatch shows.
How do I find the least count of my stopwatch?
Least count = the smallest time the stopwatch shows. For the instrument in front of you, read the scale and use your own numbers in the tool above.
Why does the least count matter?
The least count is the smallest reading you can make, so it sets the smallest error in a single measurement. Stopwatch measures short time intervals, such as the time period of a pendulum.