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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1998  > August  >
In the Classroom
Precision and Accuracy in Measurements: A Tale of Four Graduated Cylinders
Richard S. Treptow
Department of Chemistry and Physics, Chicago State University, Chicago, IL 60628
Cover
August 1998
Vol. 75 No. 8
p. 992
Abstract
The concepts of precision and accuracy help students understand that uncertainty accompanies even our best scientific measurements. A model experiment can be used to distinguish the two terms. The experiment uses four graduated cylinders which give measurements of different accuracy and precision. Such terms as mean, range, standard deviation, error, and true value are defined through an illustration. The discussion leads to the conclusion that random and systematic errors are not fundamentally different. Finally, suggestions are given for introducing error analysis into the general chemistry classroom and laboratory. Our goal is to improve the student's critical thinking skills.

See Letter re: this article.
More Information
*  Citation
 Treptow, Richard S. J. Chem. Educ. 1998 75 992.
*  Keywords
 Introductory/High School Chemistry, Quantitative Analysis, Analytical Chemistry
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 June 22, 1999
June 24, 2005
Link to Letter added (May 2004).
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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1998 > August > Page 992


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