Final answer:
Measurements that are close to each other but far from the true value are described as precise but not accurate, indicating a systematic error. Accuracy refers to how close the results are to the true value, while precision refers to the consistency of repeated measurements.
Step-by-step explanation:
If multiple measurements are taken and they are all very close to each other, but they are not close to the actual value, it can be described as measurements that are precise, but not accurate. Precision in this context means that the measurements are consistent with each other; there's little variation from one measurement to the next, indicating that random errors are minimal. However, the lack of accuracy implies a systematic error is present, which could be because of a miscalibrated instrument or a consistent procedural error, leading to results that do not reflect the true value.
In the context of a target, if you can imagine the measurements as darts thrown at a bull's-eye, this situation would be like all the darts landing in the same spot, but that spot is not the center of the target. This indicates a repeatable process with a consistent deviation from the true value. Scientists aim to minimize systematic errors to improve accuracy and continue to refine their measurement techniques to maintain high precision.