Accuracy & Precision

Two important points in measurement

 OBJECTIVES

 define accuracy and precision;

 differentiate accuracy and
precision; and
 illustrate an example of accuracy
and precision
Science is based on
experimentation that requires good
measurements.
The validity of a measurement can
be described in terms of its
accuracy and its precision.
Think…
 Accuracy

 Accuracy = the extent to which a

measured value agrees with a standard
value
 Accuracy of a device must be checked
 Does it read a proper accepted value?

 Beware of Parallax – the apparent shift

in position when viewed at a different
angle.
Graduated Cylinder –
Meniscus and Parallax
 Example: Accuracy

 Who is more accurate when measuring a book

that has a true length of 17.0 cm?
Susan:
17.0 cm, 16.0 cm, 18.0 cm, 15.0 cm

Amy:
15.5 cm, 15.0 cm, 15.2 cm, 15.3 cm
 Murphy's Laws
of
Science and Technology

Technology is dominated by those who manage

what they do not understand.
 Precision

 Precision = the degree of exactness of

a measurement that is repeatedly
recorded.
 Which set is more precise?

18.2 , 18.4 , 18.35

17.9 , 18.3 , 18.85
16.8 , 17.2 , 19.44
 Example: Precision

Who is more precise when measuring the same

17.0 cm book?

Susan:
17.0 cm, 16.0 cm, 18.0 cm, 15.0 cm

Amy:
15.5 cm, 15.0 cm, 15.2 cm, 15.3 cm
 Accuracy vs. Precision

High Accuracy High Precision

High Precision Low Accuracy
 Can you hit the bull's-eye?

Three
targets with
three
arrows each
to shoot.
Both Precise Neither
How do
accurate but not accurate
they
and accurate nor
compare?
precise precise

Can you define accuracy vs. precision?

 Why Is There Uncertainty?

•Measurements are performed with instruments,

and no instrument can read to an infinite number of
decimal places
•Which of the instruments below has the greatest
uncertainty in measurement?
 Accuracy and Precision
Let’s see if you can:

1. Explain the difference between the accuracy

and precision
2. Give examples of accuracy and precision
 Evaluate whether the following are
precise, accurate or both.

High
Low Accuracy Low Accuracy Accuracy
Low Precision High Precision High
Accuracy

It is how close a measurement is

to the correct value for that
measurement.
 Precision

It states how well repeated measurements of

something generate the same or similar results.
The precision of measurements refers to how
close together the measurements are when you
measure the same thing several times.
 Precision

One way to analyze the precision of

measurements would be to determine
the range, or difference between the
lowest and the highest measured values.
Think….