Question Detail

PHY 101 Physical Quantities, Units, and Dimensions Objective Question

Question

A student measures the diameter of a wire at three different positions and calculates the average. This technique is primarily used to reduce
Options
A zero error.
B systematic error.
C parallax error.
D random error.
Correct Answer
Correct Answer

Option D is the correct answer.

Detailed Explanation

Random errors cause unpredictable fluctuations in readings. Taking multiple measurements (e.g., at different positions) and calculating the average helps to minimize the effect of these random fluctuations, providing a more reliable estimated value.

Hint

Repeating measurements and finding the mean is a standard way to deal with this type of error.

Question Info