INTRO TO Physics

PREFLIGHT

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IN:

The following three questions refer to the material you were to read in preparation for the lesson.

You may change your mind as often as you wish. When you are satisfied with your responses, click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of this page. Don't submit more than once. (If you absolutely HAVE to resubmit it, put a note on the end to that effect.)

1. Multiple Choice

Here are 3 numbers. Rank the numbers according to their significant digits, greatest first:
(1) 0.0086,
(2) 81.600,
(3) 32,360

1, 2, 3
3, 2, 1
3, 1, 2
2, 3, 1

2. Scientific Notation

Scientific notation keeps track of the "size" of the number (powers of 10) separate from the "precision" of the number. Each size is given a prefix as listed in the box on page 7. To avoid having to memorize too many prefixes, they generally jump by 1000's. For example, one letter of the alphabet in my computer is stored in a 8-bit "byte". A 5" floppy disk from my 1981 PC held 250,000 bytes or 250 kilobytes. A 3 1/2" floppy disk in my present computer holds 1,440,000 bytes or 1.44 megabytes. My hard disk holds 6,000,000,000 bytes or 6 gigabytes.

1) If I had two thousand mockingbirds, how would I write that in scientific notation? What is the appropriate prefix to use? How would I say that (scientific) quantity?2X10^3, kilo, two kilomockingbird

Repeat this exercise for the following quantities:
2) A million phones megaphone
3) A millionth of a phone
microphone
4) Ten playing cards
dekacard(s)
5) A trillion bulls
terabull
6) A tenth of a future spouse
decimate
7) Two hundred withits
2hectawithit(s)
8) 10^-12 dillies
picodillies
9) 10¹⁵ coats
petacoats
10) 10^-18 boys
attoboys

honors extra

Make a rough estimate how long it would take you to run from Chicago to Chile. (Don't forget the breaks to sign autographs.)

Below is a space for your thoughts, including general comments about today's assignment (what seemed impossible, what reading didn't make sense, what we should spend class time on, what was "cool", etc.):

You may change your mind as often as you wish. When you are satisfied with your responses, click the SUBMIT button.

I received no help from anyone on this assignment.