For many purposes, an approximate idea of a length or weight or distance is fine. We may say that something is five minutes’ walk away, for example. That does not tell us how far it is — that would depend on how quickly a person walked — but it does give a rough idea that it is neither hundreds of kilometres nor just a few centimetres distant. However, if you need to know whether a new car would fit in your garage, you need a more accurate measurement, at least within a few centimetres. An Olympic high jumper, in fierce competition, will certainly need to measure to the nearest centimetre. And so it goes on, until scientists measuring the size of atoms need units of measurement much too small to be seen with the naked eye. The important thing is that units of measurement must be standard (agreed by everyone who uses them).
Accurate measurements are important because precise amounts are required for reactions to take place, for a recipe to turn out and to keep correct records of a measurement. When measurements are not accurate, this provides incorrect data that can lead to wrong or even dangerous conclusions or results.
When measuring, measurements that are not accurate provide data that is wrong. If something is based off an object or individual’s weight, having an inaccurate weight is dangerous. For example, a prescription drug that has a weight-based dosage could have a dosage that is too low to treat a condition. If a lab experiment calls for a specific amount of a chemical, measuring the wrong amount may result in an unsafe or unexpected outcome.
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