What is a common application of a ratio scale?

A common application of a ratio scale is in determining speed or distance. This is because ratio scales possess a true zero point, allowing for meaningful comparisons of magnitude. For example, when measuring distance, a value of 0 represents the absence of distance. Furthermore, the ratios of measurements made on this scale are meaningful; for instance, if one object is 4 meters away and another is 2 meters away, it is valid to say that the first object is twice as far away as the second.

In contrast, other types of scales such as interval scales (like temperature) lack a true zero point, making certain comparisons invalid. Ratings of satisfaction and measures of academic performance can involve ordinal and interval scales where the distances between points may not be uniform or carry the same significance. Thus, the ability to quantify speed or distance in a way that maintains meaningful, absolute measurements underscores the usefulness of the ratio scale in these scenarios.