Final answer:
Accuracy is a measure of how close a measurement is to the correct value, while precision is a measure of how close a series of measurements are to one another. A set of measurements can be precise but inaccurate, precise and accurate, neither precise nor accurate, or both precise and accurate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Accuracy is a measure of how close a measurement is to the correct or accepted value, while precision is a measure of how close a series of measurements are to one another.
A. A set of measurements that is precise but inaccurate would be like shooting darts that are far from each other and far from the bullseye. This demonstrates measurements that are neither accurate nor precise.
B. A set of measurements that is both precise and accurate would be like shooting darts that are close to one another but far from the bullseye. This demonstrates measurements that are precise, but not accurate. In a laboratory situation, high precision with low accuracy often results from systematic error.
C. A set of measurements that is neither precise nor accurate would be like shooting darts that are not grouped near each other but are centered around the bullseye. This demonstrates poor precision but fairly high accuracy. This situation is not desirable in a lab because the 'high' accuracy may be random chance and not a true indicator of good measuring skill.
D. A set of measurements that is both precise and accurate would be like shooting darts that are grouped together and have hit the bullseye. This demonstrates high precision and high accuracy, which scientists always strive to maximize in their measurements.