Errors, Precision, Accuracy

What do systematic errors affect?

• Precision

• Accuracy

• Randomness

• Consistency

Which of the following is a characteristic of systematic errors?

• They cause random variations in measurements.

• They can be corrected once identified.

• They make data more scattered.

• They occur due to unpredictable factors.

Which of the following is an example of a systematic error?

• A scale that always reads 2g too high

• A student misreading a ruler in different ways each time

• A gust of wind affecting a rubber band’s flight distance

• Slight variations in plant growth due to differing sunlight

If a ruler has a 4mm gap at the start, what will happen to the measurements?

• They will be inconsistent but sometimes correct.

• They will be randomly high or low.

• They will always be too high.

• They will not affect the results.

Which of the following would NOT cause a systematic error?

• A miscalibrated thermometer

• A stopwatch that consistently lags behind

• A misaligned measuring cylinder scale

• A researcher taking multiple readings from different angles

What do random errors affect?

• Accuracy

• Consistency

• Precision

• Systematic bias

Which of the following is an example of a random error?

• A ruler with a missing 3mm at the start

• A student pulling a rubber band back slightly further on some trials

• A thermometer that always reads 2°C too high

• A balance that always reads 5g too high

Random errors are caused by:

• A consistent flaw in the measuring instrument

• Unpredictable variations in measurement conditions

• A known, fixed offset in measurements

• A researcher always misreading a scale in the same way

Why do random errors make data less precise?

• They introduce inconsistencies between measurements.

• They shift all values in the same direction.

• They can always be corrected by calibration.

• They make measurements consistently wrong.

Which scenario best represents a random error?

• A ruler with incorrect markings

• A scale that always reads 50g as 52g

• A gust of wind affecting one trial in an experiment

• A thermometer that is always 1°C too high