Measurements, Accuracy, &
Precision
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Understanding Measurement Accuracy and Precision, Study notes of Physics
An explanation of the concepts of measurement accuracy and precision. It defines both terms, discusses how they are determined, and provides examples using rulers with different scales. The document also introduces important terminology such as the precision of an instrument and the uncertainty of a measurement.
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2021/2022
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Measurements, Accuracy, &
Precision
Accuracy Vs. Precision
Accuracy
- How correct you are
- How close your answer is to
the expected or actual value
- How accurate is determined
by the person making the measurement
- Calculated with the percent error formula % ๐๐๐๐๐ = ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ ๐ฅ 100
Precision
- How close your measurements are to one another
- How precise is determined by the smallest increment (division) on the measuring tool
- Determined (shown) by the number of significant digits
used to record measurement.
Ruler
Millimeter Scale
Precision of Instrument: 1mm
Uncertainty: 0.5mm
Sample Reading: 14.5mm +/- 0.5mm
Ruler
Centimeter Scale
Precision of Instrument:
0.1cm
Uncertainty:
0.05cm
Sample Reading:
1.45cm +/- 0.05cm
Meter stick 2
Centimeter Scale (up to 100.00cm)
Precision of Instrument: 0.5cm
Uncertainty: 0.25cm
Sample Reading: 23.3cm +/- 0.25mm