Question

An object with a pre-weighed mass of exactly (and correctly) 0.54 g is given to 2 students. One student obtains a weight of 0.59 g for the object, while another says the weight is 0.49 g. Which of the students, if either has the greater percent error?

Answer 1

Answer:

Both student have same percent error.

Explanation:

Given data:

Actual mass of object = 0.54 g

Measured value by one student = 0.59 g

Measured value by second student = 0.49 g

Percent error = ?

Solution:

Formula

Percent error = (measured value - actual value / actual value) × 100

Percent error of first student:

percent error = (0.59 g - 0.54 / 0.54 ) ×100

percent error =  9.3 %

Percent error of second student:

Percent error = (0.49 g - 0.54 / 0.54 ) ×100

Percent error = - 9.3 %

Both student have same percent error. The only difference is that first student measure the greater value then actual value and second student measure the less value then actual, however difference was same and gives same percent error.