The experimental calculation of the specific heat of aluminum was found to be 156 cal/g °C, but the actual value was given as 185 cal/g°C. What is the percent error?
1 Answer
Jan 27, 2018
Explanation:
This problem can be solve using the formula shown below.
#%"error"="absolute error"/"actual value"xx100#
#where:#
#"absolute error"="actual value"-"experimental value"#
#"absolute error"=(185cal)/(g*^oC)-(156cal)/(g*^oC)#
#"absolute error"=(29cal)/(g*^oC)#
Knowing the absolute error, % error can be calculated using the formula described above. Plug in the given and the calculated values as shown below.
#%"error"="absolute error"/"actual percentage"xx100#
#%"error"=(29cancel((cal)/(g*^oC)))/(185cancel((cal)/(g*^oC)))xx100#
#%"error"=0.16xx100#
#%"error"=16%#
