Accuracy vs Precision with Rulers

Accuracy and Precision

by Cesar Pereyra

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Multiple Choice

You are measuring length with a meter stick. However, you do not realize that the first 4.0 centimeters of the meter stick are missing because a hungry beaver made a snack of it earlier that day. The measurements you take with the meter stick will be

• Accurate, but imprecise

• Precise, but inaccurate

• Imprecise and inaccurate

• Accurate and precise

Multiple Choice

Which method would most likely increase the precision of the measurements you can take?

• Have two different people measure with the same tool

• Hold your breath when you measure

• Switch to a tool that is more finely incremented

• Accurate and precise

Multiple Choice

You are setting up a drill to make a hole in a circuit board. Which of the following is NOT a potential advantage of your efforts?

• The more precise you are, the less difficult and/or more expensive it is to set up the process

• You will tend to drill the hole in the right place each time

• You will end up with less wasted product

• You will have more options as to where exactly you want the hole placed

​Guided Discussion - Copy the question into page 13 of your interactive notebook, and answer it. 3-4 sentences.

​Agree or disagree with the following statement: “We can never be 100% certain of any measurement because at some point we’ll reach the limit of precision. After that, it is all just a guess.”

Open Ended

Agree or disagree with the following statement: “We can never be 100% certain of any measurement because at some point we’ll reach the limit of precision. After that, it is all just a guess.” Enter response below!