Measurements

Accuracy
vs.
Precision
 Accuracy
⦿Accuracy means how close the
measurements are to the true value.
⦿Depends on the person measuring
 Precision
⦿Precision refers to the degree to which
successive measurements agree with each
other.
⦿Depends on the measuring tool
⦿Determined by the number of significant
digits
Accuracy & Precision Accuracy without
Precision

Precision without No Precision &

Accuracy No Accuracy
Example True Value
Data 1.000 g/ml
1st trial: 0.980 g/m
2nd trial: 1.020 g/ml
3rd trial: 0.970 g/ml

Average: 2.970 / 3 0.990

g/ml
 Percentage Error
% Error = (TV – EV) x 100%
TV
Where:
TV – True value
EV – Experimental value
Acceptable error is
+/- 5%
Values from –5% up to 5% remeasure -5%
are acceptable 5% remeasure

Values less than –5% or

greater than 5% must be
remeasured
Why is there a need to
establish accuracy and
precision in
measurement?
Example- not valid
A B

1st trial: 44.05 cm 1st trial: 38.29 cm

2nd trial: 44.01 cm 2nd trial: 50.76 cm
3rd trial: 45.15 cm 3rd trial: 60.95 cm
=44.40 , 11.2%,precise =50,0% - accurate
However, high precision does not
necessary mean high accuracy

Ex. If the true value is 50.00 cm

 Seatwork
The density of mercury is 13.35 g/cm3. Experimental results
gave the following data:

10.45 g/cm3
16.56 g/cm3
15.75 g/cm3
12.35 g/cm3

Determine the accuracy and Precision of the measurement

 Accuracy and Precision
Group 1 Group 2
True Value = 25.5 m True Value = 33.64 cm

25.8 m 35.45 cm
25.2 m 32.89 cm
25.6 m 33.48 cm
25.4 m 36.75 cm
Group 3 Group 4
True Value = 63.13 g True Value = 89.49 km

67.45 g 85.44 km
66.85 g 82.56 km
66.98 g 84.49 km
67.23 g 81.45 km