Question Detail
Question
Repeated observations in an experiment gave the values 1.29, 1.33, 1.34, 1.35, 1.32, 1.36, 1.30 and 1.33. Find the % error given that the true value is 1.31.
Correct Answer
Option A is the correct answer.
Detailed Explanation
Calculate the mean: (1.29+1.33+1.34+1.35+1.32+1.36+1.30+1.33)/8 = 10.62/8 = 1.3275. % error = |(mean - true value)/true value| × 100% = |(1.3275 - 1.31)/1.31| × 100% = (0.0175/1.31) × 100% = 1.336%. The provided answer 0.107 would be the fractional error (0.0175/1.31 = 0.01336, not 0.107). The key may have a mismatch.
Hint
% error = |(experimental value - true value)/true value| × 100%.