Percent deviation quantifies the difference between an observed or experimental value and a known or accepted value. It expresses this difference as a percentage of the accepted value. For instance, if an experiment yields a density measurement of 2.65 g/cm for a substance with a known density of 2.70 g/cm, the calculation would determine the magnitude of that variation relative to the established value.
Understanding the extent of variation is crucial in various scientific and engineering fields. It allows researchers to assess the accuracy and precision of their measurements, identify potential sources of error, and compare the reliability of different experimental techniques. Historically, quantifying the difference between empirical results and theoretical predictions has been instrumental in refining scientific models and improving the quality of data analysis.
