Joshua uses his thermometer to find the boiling point of ethyl alcohol to be 75°C. He looks in a science reference box and finds that the actual boiling point of ethanol alcohol is 80°C. What is his percent error
To calculate the percent error, we can use the formula:
Percent Error = (|experimental value - accepted value| / accepted value) * 100%
Given:
Experimental value (Joshua's measurement) = 75°C
Accepted value (actual boiling point) = 80°C
Using the formula, we can plug in the values:
Percent Error = (|75 - 80| / 80) * 100%
Percent Error = (|-5| / 80) * 100%
Percent Error = (5 / 80) * 100%
Percent Error = 0.0625 * 100%
Percent Error = 6.25%
Therefore, Joshua's percent error is 6.25%.