Why does increasing the number of trials in an experiment increase confidence in the results?

• A. It ensures that the experimental results will always match the theoretical predictions.
• B. It guarantees that systematic errors are completely eliminated.
• C. It makes the experiment faster and more efficient.
• D. It reduces the impact of random errors and allows for more accurate estimation of the true value.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that in any experiment, measurements can be affected by random errors, which cause variability in the results each time the experiment is repeated.
2. Recognize that increasing the number of trials means performing the experiment multiple times under the same conditions, which provides a larger data set to analyze.
3. Know that by averaging the results from many trials, random errors tend to cancel out, leading to a value that is closer to the true or expected value.
4. Realize that more trials improve the precision of the measurement by reducing the uncertainty and variability in the data.
5. Note that while increasing trials reduces random errors, it does not necessarily eliminate systematic errors, which require different methods to identify and correct.