Paper 1 · November 2004 · precision and accuracy
A student makes five measurements and the readings are represented by crosses as shown in the diagram. Which set of readings represents measurements which are precise but not accurate?
AReadings clustered together but far from true reading (top row)
BReadings widely spread across true reading
CReadings clustered together and far from true reading (row C)
DReadings spread out below true reading
Explanation
Precise but not accurate means readings are close together (precise) but not near the true value (inaccurate). Set C shows clustered crosses away from the true reading.
ZIMSEC Physics Paper 1, November 2004, Q4