The correct answer is D. All of the above.
Systematic errors are errors that always occur in the same way, and can be removed by applying corrections to the observed values. They are also known as cumulative errors, because they can add up over time to produce a large error.
Some examples of systematic errors include:
- Instrumental errors: These are errors that are caused by the instrument being used to make the measurement. For example, if a thermometer is not calibrated correctly, it will always read a temperature that is too high or too low.
- Personal errors: These are errors that are caused by the person making the measurement. For example, if a person is not careful when reading a scale, they may record a weight that is slightly too high or too low.
- Environmental errors: These are errors that are caused by the environment in which the measurement is being made. For example, if a measurement is being made in a very hot or cold environment, the instrument may not be able to read accurately.
Systematic errors can be very difficult to identify and remove. However, it is important to try to identify them so that they can be corrected. Otherwise, they can lead to incorrect results.
Here are some additional details about each of the options:
- Option A: Systematic errors always follow some definite mathematical law. This is because they are caused by something that is always present in the measurement process. For example, if a thermometer is not calibrated correctly, it will always read a temperature that is too high or too low. This is because the thermometer is always measuring the temperature in the same way, even if the temperature is actually changing.
- Option B: Systematic errors can be removed by applying corrections to the observed values. This is because the corrections are designed to remove the effect of the systematic error. For example, if a thermometer is not calibrated correctly, the correction can be applied to the temperature reading to give the correct temperature.
- Option C: Systematic errors are also known as cumulative errors. This is because they can add up over time to produce a large error. For example, if a thermometer is not calibrated correctly, the temperature reading will be slightly too high or too low every time it is used. Over time, this can lead to a large error in the temperature measurement.