Accuracy, precision and percent error

Grade 10 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

NameDate

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

  1. A class measures the density of water as 1.02 g/cm³. The accepted value is 0.99802 g/cm³ (USGS, 21 °C). What is the percent error, to 0.01%, Ari?

  2. A class measures the density of sugar as 1.55 g/cm³. The accepted value is 1.5805 g/cm³ (CRC Handbook). What is the percent error, to 0.01%, Bo?

  3. On the card, which target shows results that are both accurate and precise, Jun?

    • B
    • C
    • A
  4. On the card, how would you describe target B, Kira?

    Use the picture in question 3.

    • Accurate and precise
    • Accurate, not precise
    • Precise, not accurate
  5. On the card, why isn't target C precise, Luz?

    Use the picture in question 3.

    • It has too few dots
    • Its dots are spread widely
    • Its dots miss the center
  6. What does accuracy describe, Milo?

    • Closeness to the accepted value
    • How many trials were done
    • Closeness of results to each other
  7. What does precision describe, Noah?

    • How expensive the tool is
    • Closeness of results to each other
    • Closeness of results to the accepted value
  8. A balance gives 5.01, 5.02 and 5.01 g for the same sugar cube. What does this show, Pia?

    • The readings are precise
    • The cube is changing mass
    • The balance is broken
  9. What does percent error measure, Tala?

    • How close the trials are to each other
    • How far a result is from accepted
    • How long the lab took
  10. Why does percent error use the absolute value of the difference, Zee?

    • So the final answer comes out bigger
    • So the units cancel
    • So it is a size, not a direction
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Accuracy, precision and percent error

Answer Key - Grade 10 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

  1. A class measures the density of water as 1.02 g/cm³. The accepted value is 0.99802 g/cm³ (USGS, 21 °C). What is the percent error, to 0.01%, Ari?

    2.2 %
  2. A class measures the density of sugar as 1.55 g/cm³. The accepted value is 1.5805 g/cm³ (CRC Handbook). What is the percent error, to 0.01%, Bo?

    1.93 %
  3. On the card, which target shows results that are both accurate and precise, Jun?

    • B
    • C
    • A
  4. On the card, how would you describe target B, Kira?

    Use the picture in question 3.

    • Accurate and precise
    • Accurate, not precise
    • Precise, not accurate
  5. On the card, why isn't target C precise, Luz?

    Use the picture in question 3.

    • It has too few dots
    • Its dots are spread widely
    • Its dots miss the center
  6. What does accuracy describe, Milo?

    • Closeness to the accepted value
    • How many trials were done
    • Closeness of results to each other
  7. What does precision describe, Noah?

    • How expensive the tool is
    • Closeness of results to each other
    • Closeness of results to the accepted value
  8. A balance gives 5.01, 5.02 and 5.01 g for the same sugar cube. What does this show, Pia?

    • The readings are precise
    • The cube is changing mass
    • The balance is broken
  9. What does percent error measure, Tala?

    • How close the trials are to each other
    • How far a result is from accepted
    • How long the lab took
  10. Why does percent error use the absolute value of the difference, Zee?

    • So the final answer comes out bigger
    • So the units cancel
    • So it is a size, not a direction