How accurate is scientific measurement?

[Perchlorate-ClO4]

Sir Pinkleton

Perchlorate-ClO4

Sir Pinkleton

Oh, looks like I didn't type fast enough.

Anyway, to answer your question, scientific measurement is as accurate as the implements of measuring allow.

The gauging of the instruments allow for precision within their limits, yes, but does all our data, which is gathered through instruments calibrated to our senses and perceptions, portray and accurate view of the world.

My huge distinction is between the words accurate and precise.

The precision of a measurement system, also called reproducibility or repeatability, is the degree to which repeated measurements under unchanged conditions show the same results.

The accuracy of a measurement system is the degree of closeness of measurements of a quantity to its actual (true) value.

Basically what I am asking is how well does science and it's measurement portray the reality of the world around us?

Does it show us an unbiased view, or are we skewed by a blind man's measuring stick?

That's pretty much meta-thinking, the "all I know is that I am thinking, so I must be in existence," or the straight up Descarts quote, "I think, therefore I am."

What's the point in talking about accuracy of our instruments if you don't trust them? might as well try and get high all of the time to get out of body experiences at that point.

My opinion, in sum, is that these questions aren't solvable through science: we know what we can know. if that's not good enough for you, well, there's no argument I can make to prove to you that this existence is the real one.

It isn't that I don't trust them. It is that I am constructively questioning them.

For instance I don't debate that if you measured the distance from my desk to my door and it turned out to be three meters, whether or not it is three meters.

But when my science teacher tells me that there are thirty thousand seconds in eight hours, I have to say there is a problem.

When I am told that atomic particles are so small they do not get qualified as mater, because their mass is minuscule, I have a problem.

And then, when I am told that algebra II does not work when dealing with chemistry equations, that the math is completely different, regardless of the fact that it is basic conversions I learned in pre algebra, I have a problem.

Now, this is what I am required to put on my tests, as mandated and sanctioned by the government. Yet it is horribly inaccurate.

I do have an appointment with administration of the school next monday I do believe. So I am being constructive about the matter.

But if it turns out I am wrong, which is possible, then I have a lot of confusion about science and the way it portrays the world.

[Project 429]

I'm tired, and aggrivated, and short on tobacco and unattended toddlers to kick, but from what I understand, the teacher was in the wrong. Try using a very delicate Socratic approach when you disagree with your teachers. In general, telling them they are wrong is just going to piss them off, and you don't win arguments against people with more authority then you. Right and wrong only settle disagreements between equals.