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AQA Science: Glossary - Zero Errors
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These are a type of systematic error. They are caused by measuring instruments that have a false zero.
For example: A zero error occurs when the needle on an ammeter fails to return to zero when no current flows, or when a top-pan balance shows a reading when there is nothing placed on the pan.
e.g. Sam and Sarah are measuring the rebound height of balls dropped onto a bench. Sam's ruler starts at zero, but Sarah's ruler has a 0.5 cm systematic error at both ends: the scale doesn't begin where at the ruler's end. So all Sarah's rebound heights are about 0.5 cm too small.
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