Question

3.1 using and expressing measurements

1. three students made multiple weighings of a copper cylinder, each using a different balance. describe the accuracy and precision of each student’s measurements if the correct mass of the cylinder is 47.32 g.

mass of cylinder (g)

	colin	lamont	kivrin
weighing 2	47.94	47.39	47.91
weighing 3	46.83	47.42	47.89
weighing 4	47.47	47.41	47.93

Explanation:

Step1: Define accuracy and precision

Accuracy is closeness to true value. Precision is closeness of measurements to each other.

Step2: Analyze Colin's measurements

Colin's values vary widely: 47.13, 47.94, 46.83, 47.47. They are not close to 47.32 (low - accuracy) and not close to each other (low - precision).

Step3: Analyze Lamont's measurements

Lamont's values: 47.45, 47.39, 47.42, 47.41. They are relatively close to 47.32 (moderate - accuracy) and close to each other (high - precision).

Step4: Analyze Kivrin's measurements

Kivrin's values: 47.95, 47.91, 47.89, 47.93. They are far from 47.32 (low - accuracy) but close to each other (high - precision).

Answer:

Colin: Low accuracy, low precision.
Lamont: Moderate accuracy, high precision.
Kivrin: Low accuracy, high precision.