Uncertainty In Measurement

This infographic illustrates the critical difference between precision and accuracy in scientific measurement using a target True Value of 2.00 g.

Key Definitions

Accuracy: How close a measurement (or average of measurements) is to the true or accepted value. Precision (Consistency): How close a set of measurements are to each other.

Visual Summary of Student Results

High Precision, High Accuracy (Student C): Measurements (2.01 g, 1.99 g) are clustered tightly together and centered around the true value line.

High Precision, Low Accuracy (Student A): Measurements (1.95 g, 1.93 g) are clustered tightly together (consistent), but are far from the true value.

Low Precision, Low Accuracy (Student B): Measurements (1.94 g, 2.05 g) are scattered widely and do not align with each other or the true value.