In part A the readings of the graduated cylinder were slight

In part A, the readings of the graduated cylinder were slightly off due to the inverted cylinder (meniscus is the wrong way). Is this an example of a systematic error or a random error? Explain the difference between the two.

Solution

It is an example of SYSTEMATIC error.

Systematic error occurs due to defect in instruments or wrong calibration. The systematic error will be the same for one measurement to the next.

In random error, the measurements yield values that differ from each other and the error cannot be predicted.