Physics clicker question: significance of signficant figures

Physics 5A, Fall Semester 2007
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Cf. Giambattista/Richardson/Richardson, Physics, 1/e, Chapter 1.4

Invisible Measuring Tape, by rm
icanhascheezburger.com
March 27, 2007

Students were asked the following clicker question (Classroom Performance System, einstruction.com) near the beginning of their learning cycle:

[0.3 points.] The number of significant figures measures:
(A) accuracy.
(B) precision.
(C) determinacy.
(D) significancy.

For many students "accuracy" and "precision" are synonymous, but there is an important distinction between them!

Correct answer: (B).

Student responses
Sections 0906, 0907
(A) : 11 students
(B) : 15 students
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 2 students

N.B. This was the very first clicker question of the semester!