Question detail
What is the difference between accuracy and precision in a practical experiment?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
Question
Type
exam_style
Style
Topic
A-level practical endorsement and required practical activities
Question
What is the difference between accuracy and precision in a practical experiment?
Answer
Accuracy refers to how close a measured value is to the true value, while precision indicates how consistently repeated measurements yield the same result. For example, if a scale shows 5.0 kg for a 5.0 kg weight, it is accurate; if it shows 5.0 kg repeatedly for multiple trials, it is precise. This answer is anchored to A-level practical endorsement.
Explanation
Accuracy refers to how close a measured value is to the true value, while precision indicates how consistently repeated measurements yield the same result. For example, if a scale shows 5.0 kg for a 5.0 kg weight, it is accurate; if it shows 5.0 kg repeatedly for multiple trials, it is precise. is the best answer because it directly supports the AQA A-Level Chemistry objective to evaluate practical procedures using uncertainty, error, accuracy and precision. This reasoning is anchored to A-level practical endorsement in A-level practical endorsement and required practical activities, and it separates uncertainty from similar A-Level ideas rather than relying on a vague recall statement. Other options are weaker if they use the wrong evidence, calculation, mechanism, observation, unit, or conclusion for this subtopic.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Uncertainty in Measurements
Students often state that uncertainty is simply the difference between the highest and lowest measurements taken.
Uncertainty should be expressed as a range or a percentage of the measurement, reflecting the precision of the measuring instrument used.
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