Idea 5of 6Builds onHold the rest still
Close, or consistent
Five readings agree. Are they right?
Today you'll discover
- why readings that agree can still all be wrong
- two different ways a result can be good
- the word for being close to the true value
Think firstFive drops: 8.9, 9.0, 8.9, 9.1, 9.0 m/s²
The readings cluster tightly around 9.0. The accepted value is 9.8. What went right, and what went wrong?
Decide first, then press Next. The analyse box holds the cluster; the conclude box holds the comparison.
The inquiry ring. After a prediction, the analyse box is named for a tight cluster of readings, then the collect-data box, then the conclude box where the cluster is compared with the accepted value. The last step asks about four scattered readings of a board's length.
See the whole ideathe big idea and the key word, in one place
The big idea
Accurate means close to the truth. Consistent means readings agree.
Compare themFive readings near 9.0 agree with each other and disagree with 9.8. Four readings scattered around 1.00 m disagree with each other and average to the truth.
Key word
- accuracy
- how close a result is to the true or accepted value; separate from how closely repeated readings agree
Ready to use it?
- Say whether a set of readings is accurate, consistent, both or neither.