Question

A student took a calibrated 250.0 gram mass, weighed it on a laboratory balance, and found it read 266.5 g. What was the student’s percent error?

a
9.3
b
6.6
c
6.2
d
16.5
e
7.2

Answer 1

B. 6.6%

Step-by-step explanation:

The percentage error of a measurement can be calculated using the formula;

Percent error = (experimental value - accepted value / accepted value) × 100

In this question, the calibrated 250.0 gram mass is the accepted value while the weighed mass of 266.5 g is the experimental or measured value.

Hence, the percentage error can be calculated thus;

Percent error = (266.5-250.0/250.0) × 100

Percent error = 16.5/250 × 100

Percent error = 0.066 × 100

Percent error = 6.6%