Final answer:
The precision of an instrument, defined by its ability to measure in small increments, ensures accurate and precise measurements. Significant figures indicate this precision, while the small measurement increments enhance the reliability of scientific data.
Step-by-step explanation:
The indication of the precision of an instrument and what helps scientists report measurements honestly can be understood as the tool’s ability to measure values in very small increments. This precision allows for measurements that are both accurate and precise, enhancing the reliability of scientific data. Significant figures also play a vital role in conveying the precision of measurements. Using more precise measuring tools, such as a caliper instead of a standard ruler, ensures that extremely small differences in measurements can be noted, which in turn helps achieve high levels of accuracy and precision in scientific experiments.
Precision of measuring tools is inherently tied to the size of the measurement increments they provide. For instance, while a standard ruler might measure to the nearest millimeter, a caliper could measure to the nearest 0.01 millimeter, offering a tenfold increase in the precision of the measurement. Therefore, when repeated measurements of the same quantity yield results that are very close to each other, the instrument used is said to have high precision, suggesting that the data reported will be an honest reflection of the true value.