Question

students in mr. kleins chemistry class are conducting an experiment to calculate the specific heat of a copper sample. mr. klein requires each lab team to repeat the experiment until their percent error is 2% or less. percent error is calculated using observed values (those students calculate from their lab results) and the true value (the accepted value for the specific heat of copper is 0.385 j/g°c). the formula for percent error is: (observed - true) x 100 / true. if the accepted value for the specific heat of copper is 0.385 j/g°c, which of the following lab teams have an unresolved problem on their hands? a. team 1: calculates 0.390 j/g°c b. team 2: calculates 0.395 j/g°c c. both teams d. neither team please select the best answer from the choices provided. save and exit

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate percent - error for team 1

Percent error formula is $\text{Percent Error}=\frac{\vert\text{Observed}-\text{True}\vert}{\text{True}}\times100$. For team 1, $\text{Observed} = 0.390$ J/g°C, $\text{True}=0.385$ J/g°C. $\text{Percent Error}_1=\frac{\vert0.390 - 0.385\vert}{0.385}\times100=\frac{0.005}{0.385}\times100\approx1.299\%$.

Step2: Calculate percent - error for team 2

For team 2, $\text{Observed} = 0.395$ J/g°C, $\text{True}=0.385$ J/g°C. $\text{Percent Error}_2=\frac{\vert0.395 - 0.385\vert}{0.385}\times100=\frac{0.01}{0.385}\times100\approx2.598\%$.

Step3: Determine valid teams

Since the acceptable percent - error is 2% or less, team 1 has a percent - error of approximately 1.3% which is less than 2%, and team 2 has a percent - error of approximately 2.6% which is greater than 2%.

Answer:

A. team 1