An experiment is designed to measure the speed of light in a vacuum. The accepted value for this speed is 2.997 x 108 m/s. What is the percent error if the measured value of the speed of light in a vacuum as 2.783 x 108 m/s

An experimental error is a deviation from the measured value of a physical quantity with respect to the real value of said quantity. In general, experimental errors are unavoidable and basically depend on the procedure chosen and the technology available to perform the measurement. Mathematically is written as,

Replacing with our values

THerefore the value of the percent error is 4.77%

Percent error = 7.14%

Explanation:

Percentage error is the measurement of deviation between two values - measured value and known(or accepted) value - of a quantity. In the question, the quantity is the speed of light in a vacuum.

Percentage error or percent error is found by

i. finding the difference between a measured value and a known (or accepted) value,

ii. dividing the result from (i) by the known value (accepted value),

iii. multiplying the result from (ii) by 100%

iv. finding the absolute value of the result in (iii).

i.e

Percentage error = |   | x 100%

From the question;

Measured value of the speed = 2.783 x 10⁸ m/s

Accepted value of the speed = 2.997 x 10⁸ m/s

Substituting these values into the equation above, we have;

=> Percentage error = x 100%

=> Percentage error = x 100%

=> Percentage error =   x 100%

=> Percentage error = x 100%

=> Percentage error = -0.0714 x 100%

=> Percentage error = -7.14%

The percentage error is actually the absolute value of the -7.14% = 7.14%

Therefore, the percentage error in the measurement is 7.14%