I know Mr. Blake (sorry, I know you didn't want me to put Mr. but there's Blake Lyon and that would just get confusing so yeah...) said no meter stick or yardstick so I went online and found this picture, which is kind of lame, but it works. So this is scientific notation where you turn really big or really small numbers, in this case big, into a smaller convenient value using exponents. In the picture, 8,900 is a little bit too big so by using scientific notation I move the decimal three digits to the left and since 8.90 multiplied by 103 (103 equals 1000) equates to 8,900. So the answer is 8.90 X 103.We use this in physics, because we do a lot of conversions and sometimes the numbers are very lengthy or have many digits after the decimal point so by using scientific notation it provides us with simpler solutions to the conversion problems.
Image: http://www.kylesconverter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/scientific-notation-1.jpg
The metric system is convenient, because we have an easier time dividing and multiplying by tens when we need to calculate mass, length/height, and ext. The English measuring system is convenient for estimating the mass or height of something because we tend to find things easier by dividing things by halves instead of tenths. In physics, we use the metric system when we convert a kilogram to a meter instead of a ton to a pound. Because of the metric system measure by the power of ten the calculations and conversions are simpler.
Scientific notation is what we used in chemistry yeah? Stoichiometry? What else did we use it for...
ReplyDelete@Jessica: Thanks, almost forgot to add some more stuff :D
ReplyDeleteI like your font. :) But seriously, I think the picture that you found is very creative and a super good image of the conversions and differences between the standard US system and the metric system.
ReplyDelete@Kaheke: thanks I wanted to use a comic/cartoon to just be funny.
ReplyDeleteThis font throws me off, haha ^. Yeah, I also really like the cartoon picture as well. I think it helps to show just how goofy the two systems are. That was a really detailed description of scientific notation, if I was having trouble understanding at all I'm sure this helped to make it much clearer. It's a good thing you added that section about how it relates to PHYSICS because that was what I was going to comment on! hah.
ReplyDelete@Amber: haha, very funny. Well I'm glad it helped you a little.
ReplyDeletecool pictures and very cool blog and font. You are very creative and explained he topics very well.
ReplyDelete