Understanding Significant Figures

What does accuracy refer to in measurements?

• The degree of agreement among several measurements

• How close a measurement is to the true value

• The ability to measure temperature

• The ability to measure volume

What does precision refer to in measurements?

• The ability to measure mass

• How close a measurement is to the true value

• The degree of agreement among several measurements of the same quantity

• The ability to measure length

Which of the following measuring devices is used to measure volume?

• Thermometers

• Rulers

• Balances

• Graduated cylinders

If one graduated cylinder can measure to +/- 10 mL and another can measure to +/- 0.1 mL, which one is more precise?

• The one that measures to +/- 10 mL

• The one that measures to +/- 0.1 mL

• Both are equally precise

• Neither is precise

Which graduated cylinder is more precise?

• The one that measures to +/- 0.1 mL

• The one that measures to +/- 10 mL

• The one that measures to +/- 1 mL

• The one that measures to +/- 5 mL

What is the relationship between precision and accuracy according to the text?

• Precision has nothing to do with accuracy

• Precision is the same as accuracy

• Precision is always better than accuracy

• Precision and accuracy are inversely related

What is the stated amount of precision for a beaker?

• 1%, 5%, 10%, or 25% of the maximum volume

• 50 mL, 10 mL, 1 mL, or 0.1 mL

• 0.04 mL

• None of the above

Why are measuring devices marked with divisions?

• To make them look more scientific

• To ensure they are expensive

• So you can accurately read them

• To make them heavier

What is a graduated cylinder used to measure?

• Temperature

• Mass

• Volume

• Length

What should you consider when the bottom of the meniscus is between two marks on a graduated cylinder?

• Ignore the meniscus

• Estimate the volume

• Use a different cylinder

• Measure the temperature