Question

As shown in the circuit below, a constant voltage source is connected to two ideal resistors. 
The voltage drop across a resistor is measured using two different voltmeters V1 and V2 at five different time instances and the following values are recorded from V1 and V2. 

• A. V1 is less accurate, V2 is more precise
• B. V1 is more accurate, V2 is more precise
• C. V1 is less accurate, V2 is less precise
• D. V1 is more accurate, V2 is less precise

Hint:

Precision refers to the consistency of measurements, while accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the true value.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Understanding Accuracy and Precision:
- Accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the true or accepted value. - Precision refers to how consistently repeated measurements yield the same result, regardless of whether the result is close to the true value. Analyzing the Data:
We are given readings from two voltmeters, V1 and V2, at five different time instances. \[ \text{Readings from V1: } 2.479, 2.483, 2.495, 2.508, 2.511 \] \[ \text{Readings from V2: } 2.465, 2.468, 2.470, 2.472, 2.475 \] Precision:
- For V1, the readings vary more widely between time instances: the difference between the highest and lowest values is \( 2.511 - 2.479 = 0.032 \). - For V2, the readings are more tightly grouped: the difference between the highest and lowest values is \( 2.475 - 2.465 = 0.010 \). Since V2 has a smaller range of readings, it is more precise than V1.
Accuracy:
- The values from V1 are generally higher than those from V2. Since we don't know the exact true value, we assume that the device with readings closer to each other is more accurate. The higher variability in V1's readings suggests that V1 is less accurate, and V2 is more accurate. Thus, the correct statement is Option (B): V1 is more accurate, V2 is more precise.