Precision and Accuracy in Measurements

Q7. The figure below represents the bull's eye target for an archer. The black dots represent where the archer’s arrows hit. How can this archer be described?

Background

Topic: Precision and Accuracy

This question is testing your understanding of the difference between precision and accuracy in scientific measurements. Precision refers to how close repeated measurements are to each other, while accuracy refers to how close measurements are to the true or accepted value.

Key Terms:

• Precision: The degree to which repeated measurements under unchanged conditions show the same results.

• Accuracy: The degree to which a measurement or calculation matches the true value.

Step-by-Step Guidance

1. Observe the pattern of the black dots on the target. Are they close together or spread out?

2. Consider whether the cluster of dots is near the center (bull's eye) or far from it.

3. Recall that precision is about how close the hits are to each other, regardless of their location on the target.

4. Recall that accuracy is about how close the hits are to the bull's eye (the true value).

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Final Answer: Precise

The archer's hits are clustered closely together, showing high precision, but they are not near the bull's eye, so they are not accurate.