Performance

Task #2
 GENERAL PHYSICS 1

PRECISION VS
ACCURACY
How can you say
measurement is
accurate or if it is
precise?
 ACCURACY VS PRECISION
Accuracy

Precision
Consider the figure below, the distribution of holes formed by darts shows as
an analogy that a set of measurement is (a) accurate and precise. (b) precise
but not accurate. (c) not accurate and not precise.
An important factor in the precision
of measurements involves the
precision of the measuring tool. In
general, a precise measuring tool is
one that can measure values in very
small increments.
For example, a standard ruler can measure length to the nearest millimeter whereas
a Vernier caliper can measure length to the nearest 0.01 mm. The caliper is a more
precise measuring tool than a ruler because it can measure extremely small
differences in length.
Consider 9.7 mL to be the true value, which set of
measurements below is accurate?

A. 9.85 mL, 9.86 mL, 9.83 mL, 9.88 mL

B. 9.70 mL, 9.72 mL, 9.71 mL, 9.73 mL
C. 9.25 mL, 9.42 mL, 9.35 mL, 9.20 mL
D. 9.10 mL, 9.24 mL, 9.34 mL, 9.12 mL
 The mass of an unknown substance is 1.79 g. Which of
the following sets of measurements below represents a
value with both accuracy and precision?

A. 1.78 g, 1.80 g, 1.76 g, 1.81 g

B. 1.95 g, 2.02 g, 1.96 g, 1.69 g
C. 2.81 g, 2.83 g, 2.79 g, 2.78 g
D. 1.79 g, 2.02 g, 1.96 g, 2.01 g
Systematic error is the one that occurs
in the same direction each time and it
remains constant or changes in a
regular fashion in repeated
measurements of one and the same
quantity. A systematic error remains
constant throughout a set of readings
and causes the measured quantity to
be shifted away from the accepted or
predicted value.
As its name implies, random error is
the one that varies in a random
manner and which is produced by
unpredictable and unknown variations
in the total experimental process. Any
type of error that is inconsistent and
does not repeat in the same magnitude
or direction except by chance is
considered to be a random error.
 Julianne forgot to calibrate her
analytical balance before she
measured the mass of her substance
in an experiment. She committed
69% error in her measurement. What
type of measurement error did she
commit?
 Thank You!
Do you have any questions for me before we go?