Question

Which of the following correctly defines the 'absolute error'?
1. arithmetic mean of all the errors
2. magnitude of the difference between the individual measurement and the true value
3. difference between the individual measurement and the true value
4. None of the above

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : magnitude of the difference between the individual measurement and the true value

CONCEPT:

• Error: The result of every measurement of experiments by any measuring instrument contains some uncertainty. This uncertainty is called error. 
• Absolute error: The magnitude of the difference between the measurement of the experimental readings and the true value of the quantity is called the absolute error.
  • This is denoted by |Δa |. 
  • While calculating the measurements, in absence of the true value, we consider the arithmetic mean of the measurements as the true value.

EXPLANATION:

• Absolute error is the magnitude of the difference between the measured value while doing the experiment measurement and the true value.
• So the correct answer is option 2.