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← HistoryWhich precision constraint limited medieval astrolabes' ability to accurately predict planetary positions using epicycles?
A)Material thermal expansion during observation
B)Inaccurate gear ratios within clockwork drives
C)Manufacturing tolerances affecting scale accuracy✓
D)Variations in magnetic declination readings
💡 Explanation
When constructing astrolabes, manufacturing imprecision adds up because degree markings and component sizes cannot be perfectly replicated using available tools and techniques, affecting positional accuracy. Therefore tolerance stackups limit precision, rather than thermal effects, gear ratios, or magnetic declination which affect different instrument types.
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