Final answer:
b. Consistency of measurements. Precision in laboratory work refers to the consistency of measurements, meaning that repeated measurements yield very similar results.
Step-by-step explanation:
Precision in laboratory work refers to the consistency of measurements. It is the degree to which repeated measurements under unchanged conditions show the same results. The precision of a measuring tool is influenced by the size of its measurement increments; smaller increments allow for more precise tools.
Precision is not to be confused with accuracy, which refers to how close a measurement is to the true or accepted value.
For example, if a piece of paper has a known length of 11.0 inches and repeated measures give us 11.1 in., 11.2 in., and 10.9 in., these results are both accurate and precise.
However, if all the measurements are consistently at 12 inches, this would be precise but not accurate.
Precision relates to how small the measurement increments used in measuring tools are, distinguishing it from accuracy, which is how close a measurement is to a true value.
Precision relates to how small the measurement increments used in measuring tools are, distinguishing it from accuracy, which is how close a measurement is to a true value.