Section 2: Precision & Accuracy
Fundamental Topics in Science © 2001 Texas Instruments Teacher Notes 2-8
Activity—The Big Sig-Fig Dig
This activity gives students practice in identifying which digits in a value are significant.
For each underlined digit, students select
Ã
SIG
Ä
if the digit is significant or
Ã
NOT
Ä
if the digit is not
significant. They earn 10 points for each correct answer, up to a maximum of 410. Tell students
if you wish them to record their scores and if they can repeat the activity to improve their
scores.
At any time students can select
Ã
MENU
Ä
to return to the
ACTIVITIES
menu. If a student is having
trouble, you can suggest that he or she select
Ã
MENU
Ä
and begin the activity again. The
cumulative score is displayed during the entire activity. The reward level (bronze, silver, or gold)
displays after the activity is over; the student can press any key to return to the
ACTIVITIES
menu.
Activity—Watch Your Speed
This activity reinforces the concepts of precision and accuracy that were introduced in the
INTRODUCTION
and
CONCEPTS
. Students are shown two speedometers and asked to select the
most appropriate instrument reading for each.
Many students may incorrectly respond
Ã
55
Ä
on the first speedometer. Remind them that when
making a measurement it is standard laboratory practice to report all the certain digits (limited
by the instrument’s finest divisions), and then the first estimated digit.
Students are again shown the two speedometers and, given an actual speed of 55, are asked to
state which is more precise and which is more accurate.
You may need to remind students to:
•
Use the number of significant figures read from each speedometer to determine which is more
precise.
•
Compare the indicated value of each speedometer to the actual speed to determine which is
more accurate.
Students can select
Ã
MENU
Ä
to return to the
ACTIVITIES
menu. If a student is having trouble, you
can suggest that he or she select
Ã
MENU
Ä
and begin the activity again.
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