How can calculations affect the accuracy and precision of experimental results?
Calculations, such as division and addition, can decrease precision in data by generating more digits that can be significant.
Nonzero digits are always significant; however, when making calculations, a zero may be computed.
Exact values have more significant figures than any other value; thus, when making calculations, the computed amounts are not precise.
Calculations, such as division and addition, can increase precision in data by generating more digits that can be significant.
B?
The correct answer is that calculations, such as division and addition, can affect both the accuracy and precision of experimental results.
Accuracy refers to how close the measured value is to the true value. If there are errors or mistakes made during calculations, the accuracy of the results can be compromised. For example, if a wrong conversion factor is used or if rounding errors occur, the final calculated value may be different from the actual value.
Precision, on the other hand, refers to the degree of agreement between repeated measurements. When calculations are involved, they can introduce additional decimal places or significant figures. This can increase the precision of the results by providing more detailed information about the measurements. However, it is important to note that using more decimal places or significant figures does not necessarily mean the measurement is more accurate. It simply reflects the level of precision.
Overall, it is essential to be mindful of the potential impact of calculations on both accuracy and precision. Care should be taken to ensure accurate calculations are performed, using appropriate formulas and conversion factors, and rounding or truncating results to an appropriate number of significant figures to maintain precision.