Question

To calculate the percent difference between theoretical and experimental wavelength values without using the average percent difference equation given in the lab manual, you should:

A) Divide the absolute difference by the theoretical value and multiply by 100.
B) Subtract the experimental value from the theoretical value and divide by the sum of the two values, then multiply by 100.
C) Take the absolute difference between the theoretical and experimental values and divide by the larger of the two values, then multiply by 100.
D) Add the theoretical and experimental values, then divide the absolute difference by this sum, and multiply by 100.

Answer 1

To calculate the percent difference between theoretical and experimental wavelength values, option D) should be used, which involves dividing the absolute difference by the sum of both values and then multiplying by 100.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the percent difference between theoretical and experimental wavelength values without using the average percent difference equation given in the lab manual, you should:

D) Add the theoretical and experimental values, then divide the absolute difference by this sum, and multiply by 100.

This approach is essentially computing the relative difference with respect to the mean of the two values, a common practice in the comparison of two numbers in experimental sciences, especially when it is not clear which value should serve as the reference or if neither is privileged over the other.