The Mighty Hunter

Accuracy and precision

Scientific Definitions
Accuracy
measurement refers to how close the measured value is
to the true or accepted value.
Example: if you used a balance to find the mass of a known standard
100.00 g mass, and you got a reading of 78.55 g, your measurement
would not be very accurate.
Scientific Definitions
Precision
refers to how close together a group of
measurements actually are to each other.

Important Scientific Lesson
One important distinction between accuracy and precision is that
accuracy can be determined by only one measurement, while precision
can only be determined with multiple measurements.
Precision has nothing to do with the true or accepted value of a
measurement, so it is quite possible to be very precise but totally
inaccurate.
In many cases, when precision is high and accuracy is low, the fault
can lie with the instrument. If a balance or a thermometer is not
working correctly, they might consistently give inaccurate answers,
resulting in high precision and low accuracy.

SoLets go hunting
Staring THE MIGHTY HUNTER
The mighty hunter will take a
shot
He Shoots Once
How many of you would
be satisfied right now that
the hunter is a good
enough shot to go out in
the great outdoors and
shoot some type of game?
He shoots three times
Your friend asks you how
good of a shot is our
mighty hunter?
Using scientific language,
how would you answer
him?
He shoots three more times
Another friend (the first one
decided to go fishing) asks
you how good of shot is our
mighty hunter?

Using scientific terms, how
would you answer him?
With his last three bullets, he
shoots again
Your friend keeps trying to
call, but you are out hunting
with the mighty hunter.

Using scientific explanations
why did you go with him?

Accuracy &Precision Lab Overview
Take a meter stick and carefully measure a string to be
exactly 1.0 meter long. Cut the string so that it is exactly
1.0 meters long. Put a small piece of tape over each end to
keep the ends from fraying. Repeat a total of three times.

On one string mark on the string (using a marker) where
25 cm, 50 cm, and 75 cm will be on the string.

On another string mark on the string (using a marker)
where 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm, 50 cm, 60 cm, 70 cm,
80 cm and 90 cm will be on the string.

Accuracy &Precision Lab Overview
Using the string with only the 1.0 m increment on it, measure the length of your desk
top as accurately you can. Enter the measurement in your data table. Measure the length
twice more, using the opposite end for your starting point. Remember your length needs
to be all the units you know for certainty and one that you estimate on.

Using the string that has the 4 incremental markings at 25, 50, 75 & 100cm, measure the
length of your desktop as accurately as you can. Enter the measurement in your data
table. Measure the length twice more, using the opposite end of the desk.

Using the string that has the 10 incremental markings at 10, 20, 30 cm, etc marks,
measure the length of your desktop as accurately as you can. Enter the measurement in
your data table. Measure the length twice more, using the opposite end of the desk.

Using the ruler, measure the length of your desktop as accurately as possible. Enter the
measurement in your data table. Measure the length two more times, using different
starting points on the surface of the desk.