Using an outer diameter (OD) tape involves measuring the circumference of a circular object, such as a pipe, and then using that measurement to determine its true outer diameter.
While an OD tape physically wraps around the outside of the object to capture the circumference, the specific method highlighted in the reference snippet focuses on the essential calculation needed to convert this circumference measurement into the desired diameter.
Calculating Diameter from Circumference
The fundamental principle used with an OD tape, as indicated by the reference, relies on the relationship between a circle's circumference and its diameter. The circumference (C) is always 3.14 (Pi) times the diameter (D).
C = π * D (where π is approximately 3.14)
To find the diameter from a measured circumference, you must perform the inverse operation:
- Measure the circumference: Use the OD tape to get the measurement around the outside of the object.
- Perform the calculation: According to the reference, to get the diameter when you have the circumference, you must divide the circumference by 3.14.
Calculation Step:
Diameter = Circumference / 3.14
For instance, if you measure a circumference of 12.56 inches with the OD tape, you would calculate the diameter by dividing 12.56 by 3.14, resulting in a diameter of approximately 4 inches.
This division step is crucial because, as the reference notes, you typically want the diameter, not just the circumference measurement itself, when using this type of tape.
