What does "accuracy" indicate regarding measured values?

The term "accuracy" in a scientific context specifically refers to how close a measured value is to the true or accepted value. For instance, if a scientist is measuring the boiling point of water, accuracy would indicate how closely their measurements align with the established boiling point, which is 100°C at sea level. High accuracy indicates that the measurements reflect the true value reliably, which is crucial for ensuring valid and trustworthy scientific results.

In this context, consistency of repeated measurements pertains more to "precision," which focuses on the repeatability of those measurements rather than their closeness to the true value. Variability among values deals with the spread of data points and does not inherently connect to how accurate they are. The range of collected data describes the difference between the highest and lowest measurements, which is a separate consideration from accuracy. Therefore, the concept of accuracy is directly linked to the degree to which measured values align with the true value, making the understanding of accuracy essential for scientific rigor.