11
QuizMultiple Choice

Scientific Measurement

Question 11 • (Rogowski)WCA 4321 Environmental Science 1st 9 weeks 26-27

Scientists take scientific measurements carefully in order to ensure their reliability and validity. What is the difference between accuracy and precision in scientific measurements?

Answer
A
Accuracy is how far out the measurement is taken, while precision is how close a measured value is to its true value.
B
Accuracy is how close a measured value is to its true value, while precision is how close measured values are to each other.
C
Accuracy is how close a measured value is to its true value, while precision is how close the average value is to the true value.
D
Accuracy and precision are two different words for the same thing.

Explanation

Accuracy describes how close a measurement is to the true or accepted value. Precision describes how close repeated measurements are to one another. Therefore, choice b correctly distinguishes the two; choice c incorrectly defines precision using closeness of the average to the true value.

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