Questions on Accuracy and Precision
Multiple-Choice Questions – Accuracy and Precision
1. What does accuracy refer to in measurements?
A) How close the results are to each other
B) How close the results are to the true value
C) The number of decimal places recorded
D) The size of the sample measured
E) The range of measurements
2. What does precision mean?
A) Closeness to the true value
B) Consistency or repeatability of measurements
C) The highest measurement obtained
D) Difference between two measurements
E) The average of measurements
3. If measurements are close to the true value but not close to each other, the data is:
A) Accurate but not precise
B) Precise but not accurate
C) Both accurate and precise
D) Neither accurate nor precise
E) Inconclusive
4. Which of the following best describes data that is precise but not accurate?
A) Data points clustered far from the true value
B) Data points spread far apart but near the true value
C) Data points are scattered randomly
D) Data points match the true value exactly
E) Data points average to the true value
5. An instrument with a systematic error will show:
A) High precision and high accuracy
B) Low precision and low accuracy
C) High precision but low accuracy
D) Low precision but high accuracy
E) None of the above
6. Which of the following will improve precision in repeated measurements?
A) Calibrating the instrument correctly
B) Using a more accurate instrument
C) Taking multiple measurements consistently
D) Ignoring outliers
E) Averaging the results
7. What kind of error affects accuracy but not precision?
A) Random error
B) Systematic error
C) Human error
D) Parallax error
E) Instrumental error
8. What kind of error affects precision but not accuracy?
A) Instrumental error
B) Systematic error
C) Random error
D) Calibration error
E) Human bias
9. Which term describes how close measurements are to the actual value?
A) Precision
B) Accuracy
C) Reliability
D) Validity
E) Resolution
10. How can you improve the accuracy of a measurement?
A) Take measurements repeatedly
B) Use a correctly calibrated instrument
C) Record measurements quickly
D) Use rough estimation
E) Avoid measurement
11. If a set of measurements are both accurate and precise, the data points will be:
A) Spread far apart but near the true value
B) Clustered close to each other and near the true value
C) Spread far apart and far from the true value
D) Close to each other but far from the true value
E) Randomly scattered
12. Which of the following affects random errors?
A) Environmental factors
B) Calibration of instruments
C) Poor technique
D) Instrument design
E) Human bias
13. When repeated measurements are very consistent but far from the true value, what does this indicate?
A) High accuracy, low precision
B) Low accuracy, high precision
C) Low accuracy, low precision
D) High accuracy, high precision
E) Invalid data
14. Which is an example of a precise but inaccurate set of measurements?
A) 5.0, 5.1, 5.2 close to true value 5.1
B) 6.0, 6.1, 6.0 while true value is 5.0
C) 4.0, 5.5, 6.0 widely varying values
D) 5.0, 5.0, 5.0 true value 5.0
E) 4.8, 5.1, 5.0 near true value
15. What does repeatability refer to in experimental measurements?
A) Accuracy over time
B) Precision when repeated under same conditions
C) Measuring with different instruments
D) Measurement with the highest value
E) Using different methods
16. Which error type can be reduced by proper calibration?
A) Random errors
B) Systematic errors
C) Human errors
D) Environmental errors
E) Statistical errors
17. Which of the following describes poor precision?
A) Measurements close to the true value
B) Measurements far from each other
C) Measurements exactly on target
D) Consistent measurements
E) Measurements corrected by calibration
18. How is precision usually represented graphically?
A) By a cluster of points close together
B) By points spread far apart
C) By points close to the origin
D) By the largest measurement only
E) By average value
19. Why is precision important in scientific experiments?
A) It guarantees the data is accurate
B) It ensures results are consistent and reproducible
C) It increases the speed of data collection
D) It reduces the number of trials needed
E) It allows ignoring systematic errors
20. Which of the following is an example of improving accuracy in a lab?
A) Using a finely graduated instrument
B) Repeating the measurement many times
C) Calibrating instruments before use
D) Taking measurements quickly
E) Ignoring anomalous data
Answer Key with Extended Explanations
1. B) How close the results are to the true value
Accuracy measures closeness to the correct or accepted value.
2. B) Consistency or repeatability of measurements
Precision means how consistent or reproducible the measurements are.
3. A) Accurate but not precise
Close to true value but scattered.
4. A) Data points clustered far from the true value
Precise but inaccurate data is tightly clustered but offset.
5. C) High precision but low accuracy
Systematic errors cause consistent bias.
6. C) Taking multiple measurements consistently
Repeated measurements improve precision.
7. B) Systematic error
Systematic error shifts all measurements, affecting accuracy.
8. C) Random error
Random errors cause scatter, reducing precision.
9. B) Accuracy
Accuracy = closeness to true value.
10. B) Use a correctly calibrated instrument
Calibration corrects systematic bias, improving accuracy.
11. B) Clustered close to each other and near the true value
Ideal data: precise and accurate.
12. A) Environmental factors
Random errors come from uncontrollable variations.
13. B) Low accuracy, high precision
Data tightly grouped but off target.
14. B) 6.0, 6.1, 6.0 while true value is 5.0
Consistent but wrong value.
15. B) Precision when repeated under same conditions
Repeatability is precision under same setup.
16. B) Systematic errors
Proper calibration removes bias.
17. B) Measurements far from each other
Poor precision means scattered data.
18. A) By a cluster of points close together
Tight cluster indicates precision.
19. B) It ensures results are consistent and reproducible
Precision is needed for reliability.
20. C) Calibrating instruments before use
Calibration enhances accuracy.
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