accuracy and precision

Front

What is accuracy?

Back

Accuracy is a description of how close a measurement is to an accepted or true value.

Front

What is precision?

Back

Precision is a description of how similar or close measurements are to each other.

Front

What does it mean if a measurement is both accurate and precise?

Back

It means the measurements are close to the true value and also close to each other.

Front

What does a bull's eye target represent in terms of accuracy and precision?

Back

A bull's eye target shows both accuracy and precision when the shots are close to the center and close to each other.

Front

What does it mean if a measurement is neither accurate nor precise?

Back

It means the measurements are far from the true value and also vary widely from each other.

Front

Can a measurement be accurate but not precise?

Back

Yes, a measurement can be accurate if it is close to the true value, but not precise if the measurements vary widely.

Front

Can a measurement be precise but not accurate?

Back

Yes, a measurement can be precise if the measurements are close to each other, but not accurate if they are far from the true value.

Front

What is an example of high precision but low accuracy?

Back

If a set of measurements are all 5.1 cm but the true value is 6.0 cm, the measurements are precise but not accurate.

Front

What is an example of high accuracy but low precision?

Back

If measurements are 5.9 cm, 6.1 cm, and 6.0 cm, they are close to the true value of 6.0 cm but vary widely, showing low precision.

Front

What is the importance of accuracy in scientific measurements?

Back

Accuracy is important because it ensures that the results of experiments and calculations are reliable and valid.