Definitions

Question 1

Accuracy

Answer 1

An indication of how close a measurement is to the accepted value (measure of correctness)

Question 2

Precision

Answer 2

An indication of the agreement among a number of measurements made in the same way (meadure of exactness)

Question 3

Random uncertainty

Answer 3

Produced by unknown and unpredictable variations in the experimental situation
Ex, temp fluctuations
Affects precision of results
- Can be reduced by taking repeated trials but not eliminated, shows up as error bars on graph

Question 3

Scalar

Answer 3

Quantity with only magnitude

Question 4

Systematic error

Answer 4

Error associated with particular instrument or experimental technique that causes measured value to be off by same amount each time.
Affects accuracy of results
Can be eliminated by fixing source of error,
Shows up as non-zero y-intercept on a graph

Question 4

Vector

Answer 4

Quantity with both magnitude and direction