The error resulting from using a tape that is too short is known as what kind of error?

The correct identification of the error resulting from using a tape that is too short relates to systematic error. This type of error occurs consistently whenever measurements are taken with the faulty tape, leading to a predictable and repeatable inaccuracy in the measurement results.

Systematic errors are typically associated with a flaw in the measurement instrument or procedure that leads to consistent deviations from the true value. In this case, using a tape that is consistently shorter than its stated length causes every measurement taken with it to be inaccurately scaled down, causing all recorded distances to be less than they actually are. Since this error does not change randomly with each measurement, it fits the definition of a systematic error perfectly.

Cumulative errors, on the other hand, are related to the accumulation of small systematic or random errors over a series of measurements, resulting in a more significant overall deviation. Random errors are unpredictable variations in measurements due to factors that are difficult to control, such as environmental conditions, and absolute errors refer to the difference between a measured value and the true value, not specifically linked to the use of a tape that is too short. Therefore, identifying the error from a consistently short tape as systematic aligns with the foundational principles of measurement errors in surveying.