Any A-level physics student should be able to explain what is gained by taking repeat measurements, both verbally (during assessed practical work for the Practical Endorsement) and in writing (in experiment reports and exam questions set in practical contexts). There are at least three distinct reasons that you should be able to state and explain.
Students sometimes suggest that taking repeat readings can, by itself, improve accuracy or reduce uncertainty. This is not correct. Merely having or taking repeat measurements cannot affect the accuracy of original data, and there is no reason why repeat datasets obtained using the same techniques would be any more accurate or have a lower uncertainty. It is what can be done next with repeat readings that can make results more accurate.
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