Answer :
Final answer:
A digital scale provides the most precise measurements of mass compared to a triple beam balance, spring scale, or a simple beam balance, with some analytical balances being highly precise and offering measurements to the nearest thousandth of a gram. Therefore, option 3) Digital scale is the correct answer.
Explanation:
When it comes to the measurement of mass in a physics lab, precision and accuracy are crucial. A digital scale provides the most precise measurement of mass. Unlike a spring scale, which measures weight (force) and could be affected by changes in gravity, or a triple beam or beam balance that might only measure to the nearest tenth of a gram, a digital scale can measure up to the nearest thousandth of a gram. This high level of precision is particularly important in scientific labs where accurate measurements are necessary.
Furthermore, analytical balances, which are a type of digital scale, often have sophisticated mechanisms to increase precision, such as electromagnetic force restoration, providing mass measurements to an even finer scale, sometimes as precise as "+0.01 mg to "+1 mg." The precision of a measurement tool is also indicated by its ability to consistently provide the same results on subsequent measurements of the same object.
