Open main menu

Precise

Revision as of 17:03, 20 April 2019 by NRJC (talk | contribs) (About Precision)

Contents

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Results are precise if the same reading or measurement repeatedly gives a similar value.

About Precision

The smaller the range and uncertainty the greater the precision.
Precision is achieved by controlling variables so that readings are stable over a long period of time.

Accuracy vs Precision

Experimental Measurements of pi
Method Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Average Range
Method 1 3.27 3.09 3.01 3.12 0.26
Method 2 3.91 3.88 3.88 3.89 0.03
Method 3 3.57 2.89 2.93 3.13 0.68
The number pi is 3.14159265359 correct to 12 significant figures.

Method 1: The most accurate measurements because they are the closest to pi but they are not very precise because they have a range of 0.26.

Method 2: These are the least accurate measurements because they are the furthest from pi but they are very precise because they have a range of only 0.03.

Method 3: Each measurement is not accurate because they are far from pi, they are also the least precise because they have a range of 0.68. However, the average is the most accurate as it is the closes to pi.