Name: _______________________ Date:____________________
Black Hole Scientific Notation
The use of scientific notation helps turn large numbers into numbers
which are more manageable. This is especially useful to scientist studying
space. Astronomers are currently searching for a black hole at the center
of our Milky Way galaxy. Seven telescopes are set up around the globe all
searching for what could be the biggest black hole.
Following are some numbers related to the Astronomer’s search for this
black hole. Change the numbers into scientific notation. Your answer may
be written as a mathematical equation. There may be several correct
answers to each question. Round your numbers either to whole numbers or
to the hundredths place. (For some questions you may need to do an
Internet search to help get the answer.
1. The center of the Milky Way is 26,000 light years from the Earth. How
many miles is a light year? How many miles away from Earth is the
Milky Way?
2. Astronomers have found what they believe is the biggest black hole
which they estimate is 10 Billion times as massive as the sun. What is
the mass of the sun? Assuming the mass of this black hole is10 Billion
times greater than the mass of the sun, what is the mass of the black
hole?
3. There are between 200 and 400 Billion Stars in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Write both these numbers in Scientific Notation.
4. How long does it take the Sun to travel around the Milky Way Galaxy?
5. If you were an Astronomer where would you point these telescopes?
What would you be looking for? Describe what you are looking for in
terms of size, mass, and distance from the earth.