APS Excellence in Physics Education Award
November 2019

Science SPORE Prize
November 2011

The Open Source Physics Project is supported by NSF DUE-0442581.
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Measurement Precision and Error JS Model Documents
Main Document
written by
Wolfgang Christian
In the laboratory neither the measuring instrument nor the measuring procedure is ever perfect; consequently, every experiment is subject to experimental error. The Experimental Precision and Error simulation explores how the precision of a measuring device affects the accuracy of the measurement. The precision of a measuring device refers to the smallest increment or unit of measurement that the device can reliably measure. For a ruler, this would be the smallest division marked on it. For example, if a ruler has markings every millimeter, its precision is 1 millimeter.
Both precision and accuracy are important when making measurements. Precision determines how finely a measurement can be made. The more precise a measuring device is, the smaller the unit it can measure, allowing for more detailed and accurate measurements. Precision should not be confused with accuracy, which refers to how close a measured value is to the true value. Since experimental errors are unavoidable, what can be done to increase our confidence in our results?
Published July 21, 2024
Last Modified July 21, 2024
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