Question

You and your lab partner determined the density of a sample of pure mercury to be 13.52 g/cm^3. The accepted value for the density of mercury is 13.60 g/cm^3. Determine a) the error, b) the absolute error, and c) the percent error of your result to two decimal places.

Answer 1

To determine the error, absolute error, and percent error of your result, subtract the accepted value from your result, take the absolute value of the error, and calculate the percent error by dividing the absolute error by the accepted value and multiplying by 100.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the error, absolute error, and percent error of your result, you need to compare it to the accepted value for the density of mercury. Here are the steps:

1. Calculate the error by subtracting the accepted value from your result: error = your result - accepted value = 13.52 g/cm^3 - 13.60 g/cm^3 = -0.08 g/cm^3.
2. Calculate the absolute error by taking the absolute value of the error: absolute error = |error| = |-0.08| g/cm^3 = 0.08 g/cm^3.
3. Calculate the percent error by dividing the absolute error by the accepted value and multiplying by 100: percent error = (absolute error / accepted value) * 100 = (0.08 g/cm^3 / 13.60 g/cm^3) * 100 = 0.5882 * 100 = 5.88%.