MCQs on Precision and Accuracy

Which statement best describes accuracy?

• How close measurements are to each other.

• How close a measurement is to the true value.

• How large the measured value is compared to the actual value.

• The ability to measure something quickly.

Which statement best describes precision?

• How close measurements are to each other.

• How close a measurement is to the true value.

• How large the measured value is compared to the actual value.

• The ability to measure something quickly.

Which tool would likely give the most precise measurement of a liquid's volume?

• A graduated cylinder marked every 1 mL

• A beaker marked every 10 mL

• A cup with no markings

• A ruler

Four students measured the length of a pencil. Their results are: 14.8 cm, 14.9 cm, 14.7 cm, and 14.8 cm when the actual measurement is 15 cm. Which statement is true?

• The measurements are accurate but not precise.

• The measurements are precise but not accurate.

• The measurements are both precise and accurate.

• The measurements are neither precise nor accurate.

A thermometer shows the temperature as 37.9°C when the actual temperature is 38°C. This thermometer is:

• Accurate but not precise.

• Precise but not accurate.

• Both accurate and precise.

• Neither accurate nor precise.

A recipe calls for 250 grams of flour. You measure it using a kitchen scale, and your readings are 251 g, 250 g, and 249 g across three attempts. Are your measurements accurate, precise, or both? Explain why.

A student is throwing darts at a dartboard. Out of 5 throws: All land close to each other but far from the center. Are the throws accurate, precise, or both?

Sarah needs exactly 100 mL of water for her experiment. She uses a measuring jug marked every 50 mL. She pours water, and the closest mark shows 100 mL. Is her measurement likely to be accurate, precise, or both?

A digital scale gives the following readings for the weight of a backpack: 5.1 kg, 5.0 kg, 5.2 kg, and 5.1 kg. The actual weight is 5.0 kg. Are the readings accurate, precise, or both?

A speed radar shows the following speeds for a car traveling at 50 km/h: 49.8 km/h, 50.0 km/h, and 50.1 km/h. Are these measurements accurate, precise, or both?