Which limitation impacted the precision of 18th-century sextant readings to determine latitude?

💡 Explanation

Sextant accuracy suffered because the frame's metal would expand/contract due to temperature changes, altering angular measurement. This thermal expansion, rather than bubble level errors therefore compromised precision when at sea in fluctuating conditions, compared to optical calibration issues.

• Which effect reduces Viking longship sailing efficiency when encountering crosswinds?
• Which mechanism limited early steam engines' efficiency before the separate condenser invention?
• Which outcome arises when early wrought iron firearms used gunpowder with excessive granular impurities?
• Which outcome occurs when raw components of Byzantine silk production lack sericin degumming before spinning?
• Which outcome occurs when subsurface freezing causes expansion surrounding Mughal-era pietra dura inlay?
• Which outcome occurs when early Byzantine weighted silk looms experience excessive tension?