ACCURACY AND PRECISION

ACCURACY PRECISION
It refers to the closeness of the measurement to t It refers to the resolution or the limit to which th
he true value of the physical quantity. e quantity is measured.
As we reduce the errors the measurement becom The smaller the least count, greater is the precisi
es more accurate. on.

Data to illustrate accuracy and precision

STUDENT M1 M2 M3 AVERAGE
A 0.52 g 0.51 g 0.50 g 0.51 g
B 0.516 g 0.515 g 0.514 g 0.515 g
C 0.521 g 0.520 g 0.520 g 0.520 g

Data by student A: Not very precise nor accurate.

Data by student B: More precise but not accurate.

Data by student C: Both precise and accurate.

(The resolution for A is 0.01 g and that for B and C is 0.001 g)

ERRORS IN THE MEASUREMENT

The error in a measurement is equal to the difference between the true value a
nd the measured value of the quantity.

ERROR = TRUE VALUE MEASURED VALUE

An error gives you an indication of the limits within which the true value may lie
.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ERROR

TYPE OF ERROR MEANING EXAMPLE ELIMINATION

CONSTANT ERRO The errors which affect e Due to faulty calibrati Using different ap
RS ach observation by the s on of scale. paratus or techniq
ame amount are called c ue.
onstant errors.
SYSTEMATIC ERR Errors tending to occ
ORS ur in one direction ei
(They are of 4 typ ther positive or nega
es.) tive.
1. Instrumental Inbuilt defect of the Zero error in verni
Rearrange the s
measuring Instrume er callipers. cale or use diffe
nt. rent instrument
.
2. Imperfections i Limitations of experi Error due to buoya Can't be elimina
n experimental te mental arrangement ncy of air when w ted altogether b
chniques. s. e weigh a body in ut corrections c
air. an be made.
3. Personal errors Individuals bias or ca By habit , holding Readings to be t
relessness head towards righ aken by differe
t ,while reading a s nt persons or re
cale. moving the pers
onal bias.
4. Errors due to e Due to change in ext Expansion of scale Controlling exte
xternal causes. ernal conditions like due to rise in tem rnal conditions
pressure, temperatur perature. or making suita
e,wind etc. ble corrections.
RANDOM ERROR Errors occurring irreg Occur by chance. Arithmetic mea
S ularly and at random n of large numb
. er of observatio
ns can be taken
 as true value.
LEAST COUNT ER Limitations imposed Uncertainty associ Usage of higher
RORS by least count of the ated with resoluti precision instru
measuring instrumen on of measuring in ment.
ts. strument.