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| Introduction - Significant Figures |
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| Measuring instruments have a limit upto which measurements can be made, called as the least count of the instrument. Errors are seen when measuring through various instruments. For e.g., accuracy of the temperature measured by thermometer depends on the thermometer and the measuring person. If the temperature of hot water is 99.9o C and if the thermometer gives exactly 99.9o C then the measured value is accurate, or else it is an error. |
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| Accuracy depends on |
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 The range of instruments used |
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 Least count |
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 Sensitivity of the instrument |
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 hysteresis |
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 Quick response of the instrument to the physical quantity to be measured |
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 Effect of environment on instrument |
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 Size and cost of the instrument |
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| Hence accuracy is the extent to which the measured value agrees to the true value for measurement. Precision is the extent to which a given set of measurements of the same quantity agree with their mean value. Precision measurement need not be accurate. Also accuracy depends on systematic errors while precision depends on random errors. |
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