How can you tell how accurate a measurement is?

Answer 1

To check the precision of an instrument its apparent measurement must be compared to a known measurement. The difference between the measured quantity divided by the known quantity is expressed as a % precision of the instrument, or calibration. Most instruments when being calibrated are tested against multiple known quantities throughout the range of the instrument. Thus the precision of the instrument is determined throughout it's full range of measurement.

Answer 2

You can use a tool that has a smaller amount of uncertainty. An amount of uncertainty is how "small" a unit the tool can measure in. For example, a meter stick usually has marks up to the millimeters. There is something called a micrometer [where I live, anyways], which can measure up to .1 of a millimeter. Thus, micrometers can get more precise measurements in comparison to a meter stick.

Answer 3

you can make an experiment more precise by the equipment which you use:

• scales that measure to a 1000 of a gram are more precise than those that measure to a 100th of a gram
• a measuring cylinder that measures to 1cm3 is more precise than one that measure to 2cm3

Answer 4

Compare reading against a calibrated item. There are calibration instruments and procedures for all measuring devices. Basically, these allow comparisons to known, and very well maintained, standards, usually in an indirect fashion.

Answer 5

You can tell how accurate a measurement is by comparing it with the accepted?ævalue. The accuracy can be obtained using the mean absolute percentage error formula.

Answer 6

Only by changing the method used to take the measurement, which could include changing the person performing the measurement.

Answer 7

practice, practice, practice or redo it many times. It happens to me a lot at school. Don't get frustrated either.