Systematic error is best described as:

• A. Random fluctuations in measurements
• B. Consistent source of error due to bias in measurement system
• C. Error that disappears with more measurements
• D. Zero error

Answer: (B)

Systematic error is a consistent bias that comes from the measurement system itself. It makes all readings shift in the same direction due to something like a miscalibration, a stable flaw in the method, or a constant environmental influence. Because this bias is embedded in how you measure, simply taking more measurements won’t remove it—you’d need to calibrate, adjust the instrument, or change the procedure to correct it. This is different from random error, which results from unpredictable fluctuations and tends to average out with more measurements. Zero error is a specific case of systematic error where the instrument reads a nonzero value when the true value is zero, but the general idea is a persistent bias from the measurement setup.