Which type of error primarily affects the accuracy of an instrument?

Question

Question

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RRB JE CBT 2 (Electronics Engineering) ReExam Official Paper (Held On: 04 Jun, 2025)

Answer 1

Systematic error primarily affects the accuracy of an instrument.

Explanation:

Systematic error: These errors are consistent and repeatable, leading to a constant or predictable deviation of measurements from the true value. They arise from sources such as faulty instrument calibration, consistent environmental influences, or flaws in the measurement method. Systematic errors directly impact the accuracy of an instrument, causing it to consistently measure values that are either too high or too low.
Random error: These errors are unpredictable and vary from one measurement to the next. They typically result from uncontrollable fluctuations in the measurement conditions or limitations of the instrument's precision. Random errors affect the precision (reproducibility) of measurements, causing scatter around the true value, but they do not consistently bias the results in one direction.
Instrumental drift: This is a specific type of systematic error where the instrument's calibration changes gradually over time. It contributes to inaccuracies but falls under the broader category of systematic errors.
Gross error: Also known as blunders or mistakes, these are typically human errors (e.g., misreading a scale, incorrect calculation, improper use of equipment). While they can significantly impact a measurement, they are not inherent to the instrument's accuracy in a fundamental, repeatable way.