Question

The density of a sample of metal is calculated using these three different sets of data: 1.2 g/mL, 1.4 g/mL, and 1.1 g/mL. If the true density of the metal is 1.2 g/mL, what can be said about these calculated density values? Are they accurate and precise, just one, or neither?

Answer 1

Accurate data means the data experimentally obtained are close to the true value. Precise data means the data obtained are close to one another. In this case, the data are close to the true value which is 1.2 and the data are relatively close to one another. Hence the set is both accurate and precise.