Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy
oAccuracy refers to the closeness of a measured
value to a standard or known value. For example,
if in lab you obtain a weight measurement of 3.2
kg for a given substance, but the actual or known
weight is 10 kg, then your measurement is not
accurate. In this case, your measurement is not
close to the known value.
 Precision
oPrecision refers to the closeness of two or more
measurements to each other. Using the example
above, if you weigh a given substance five times,
and get 3.2 kg each time, then your measurement is
very precise. Precision is independent of accuracy.
You can be very precise but inaccurate, as
described above. You can also be accurate but
imprecise.
Example
oFor example, if on average, your
measurements for a given substance are
close to the known value, but the
measurements are far from each other, then
you have accuracy without precision.
Example
oA good analogy for understanding accuracy and
precision is to imagine a basketball player shooting
baskets. If the player shoots with accuracy, his aim will
always take the ball close to or into the basket. If the
player shoots with precision, his aim will always take
the ball to the same location which may or may not be
close to the basket. A good player will be both accurate
and precise by shooting the ball the same way each
time and each time making it in the basket. 
Problem
The volume of a liquid is 20.5 mL. Which of the following
sets of measurement represents the value with good
accuracy?
a. 18.9 mL, 19.0 mL, 19.2mL, 18.8 mL
b. 18.6 mL, 17.8mL, 19.6mL, 17.2 mL
c. 19.2 mL, 19.3 mL, 18.8 mL, 18.6 mL
d. 20.2 mL, 20.5mL, 20.3mL, 20.1 mL
Problem
The mass of an unknown substance is 2.86 g. Which of the
following sets of measurement represents the value with
both accuracy and precision?
a. 2.81g, 1.98 g, 2.40g, 2.78g
b. 1.78g, 1.80 g, 1.76g, 1.81g
c. 2.85g, 2.86 g, 2.84g, 2.81g
d. 1.98g, 2.02 g, 1.96g, 2.01 g
Problem
The mass of a sample of copper nitrate is 3.82 g. A student
measures the mass and finds it to be 3.81 g, 3.82 g, 3.79 g, and 3.80
g in the first, second, third, and fourth trial, respectively. Which of
the following statements is true for his measurements?
a. They have poor accuracy but good precision
b. They have good accuracy but poor precision
c. They are neither precise nor accurate
d. They have good accuracy and precision
Quiz
Draw four (4) dots on each of the target diagrams below, representing
the indicated levels of accuracy and precision.