Accuracy and Precision Lab
Name:____________________________________
Date:________________
Mod:________________
Pre-Lab Questions:
1. What is the definition for accuracy?
2. What is the definition for precision?
3. What is the difference between precision and accuracy?
Purpose:
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To determine the difference between accuracy and precision.
Materials List:
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Accuracy and Precision Lab manual
Steel Ball
Carbon Paper
Procedure:
1. Read through this procedure then complete the lab. On the back of this lab manual are 6 sets of
bull’s eyes, with each bull’s eye having its own number.
2. Turn the lab over and place a piece of carbon paper on top of the lab manual. Make sure that
the carbon paper is dark side down.
3. Take your steel ball and try to drop it in the center of bull’s eye #1 from a distance of about a
foot above the paper, without peaking under the carbon paper.
4. Drop it a total of 10 times on bull’s eye #1 and try to catch each drop after the first bounce
before it hits for a second time.
5. After your done dropping the steel ball on bull’s eye #1, take the carbon paper off and check the
boxes that accurately describe if the ball drops were accurate, precise, both or none.
6. After completing bull’s eye #1, complete the same process for bull’s eye #2 through #6.
Post-Lab Questions:
1. Looking at your six bull’s eyes with the ten drops, answer the following questions below:
a. Is it possible to have only accuracy, but not precision? Explain…
b. Is it possible to have only precision, but not accuracy? Explain…
c. Is it possible to have both precision and accuracy or have none? Explain…
2. Give two real world scenarios for accuracy and/or precision. Explain how they are considered
accurate or precise.
Accuracy and Precision Lab
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Bull’s Eye #1
Accurate
□
Precise
Bull’s Eye #2
□
Bull’s Eye #3
Accurate
□
Precise
Accuracy and Precision Lab
□
Precise
□
Precise
□
Bull’s Eye #4
□
Bull’s Eye #5
Accurate
Accurate
□
Accurate
□
Precise
□
□
Precise
□
Bull’s Eye #6
Accurate
Page 2 of 2