A set of 500- G masses is placed at a time on a digital balance during control testing. The mass readings are 397 g, 401 g, and 403 g. Describe the accuracy and precision of the scale
Accuracy refers to how close the measured values are to the true or target value. In this case, the true value would be 500 g. The scale's measurements of 397 g, 401 g, and 403 g indicate that it consistently measures a value lower than the true value. Therefore, the scale is not accurate.
Precision, on the other hand, refers to how consistent the measurements are regardless of whether they are close to the true value. The measurements of 397 g, 401 g, and 403 g are relatively close to each other, with a range of only 6 g. This suggests that the scale is precise, as it consistently produces similar measurements.
In summary, the scale is precise but not accurate.
To describe the accuracy and precision of the scale, we need to understand these terms:
1. Accuracy: Accuracy refers to how close the measured values are to the true or target value. A scale is accurate if its readings are close to the actual value.
2. Precision: Precision refers to the consistency and reproducibility of the measured values. A scale is precise if it consistently produces similar values when repeated measurements are taken.
Based on the given information, let's examine the accuracy and precision of the scale:
Accuracy:
The true value of the mass is not provided in the question. Without knowing the reference value, we cannot determine the accuracy of the scale.
Precision:
The set of mass readings provided (397 g, 401 g, and 403 g) shows a slight variation, indicating some level of precision. However, we cannot draw a definitive conclusion about the precision without additional information.
In summary, based on the given data, we cannot determine the accuracy of the scale since the actual value is unknown. The precision seems to be moderate, but it cannot be confirmed without more measurements or additional data.
To describe the accuracy and precision of the scale, we'll first define these terms:
1. Accuracy: Accuracy refers to how close the measured values are to the true or expected value. In this case, the true or expected value would be 500 g.
2. Precision: Precision refers to the consistency or reproducibility of the measured values. It indicates how closely the measurements are clustered together.
Now, let's assess the accuracy and precision of the scale based on the given information.
Accuracy: The measured values on the digital balance are 397 g, 401 g, and 403 g, while the expected value is 500 g. The measured values are consistently lower than the expected value, indicating a systematic error. Therefore, the accuracy of the scale is low because it consistently underestimates the actual value.
Precision: The measured values of 397 g, 401 g, and 403 g indicate a considerable variation. Although the measurements are clustered together, they differ from each other by 2 g, which is relatively large compared to the expected value. Therefore, the precision of the scale is low because the measured values are not consistently close to each other.
In summary, the scale in question is neither accurate nor precise. It consistently underestimates the measured values (low accuracy) and shows a considerable variation in the measured values (low precision).