Scientific Notation & Scaling

It’s outa this world!

Why do we use it?

Scientific Notation• We use scientific notation

to help us to understand more about the numbers because we have no reference for the really large or really small numbers which is what scientific notation is used to change into more readable and understandable numbers.

Scaling• We use scaling to make it

easier for us to picture the size of an object in our minds, to create more comparable circumstances, or to make a model that is easier to study.

2 Examples where it is useful

Scientific Notation• 1. When you are calculating

a very large distance such as maybe the diameter of a star.

• 2. When you are checking the mass of something small like an atom.

Scaling• 1. When an object is too

large to work with in real life – like a whole planet, or a solar system.

• When an object is too small to work with in real life like a water molecule.

What are the drawbacks of using it?

Scientific Notation• Usually this number is less

accurate because they don't add all the decimal places after. Also units aren't associated with scientific notation very often so they would require more converting after which defeats the purpose.

Scaling• It may make it harder to

show both distance and size in the same model. The distance may be too great between planets and the planets too small to show both in one scale model.

Why is it important when studying the universe?

Scientific Notation• It is important because the

numbers we are using are so large that we don't really comprehend what they mean and how big they really are. It is also important because the universe is so large that without this we would be looking at numbers that are way out of the realm of our understanding which would cause possible misinterpretation of data.

Scaling• This is important because

we cannot go out to all the planets or take a look at pictures to understand the size. When we see a model and have something to compare it to it makes it easier to study and easier to see.

And Now You Know!