Conversion between Scientific and
Decimal Notation
Course:
Name (s):
Instructor:
Date:
Section:
Introduction and Objective:
Scientific notation is a convenient method to express numbers if the number is too big or too tiny. For
example, the number of atom present in one mole of a substance at Standard Temperature and Pressure is
623,000,000,000,000,000,000,000! Hard to read, as well as write! How about writing it as 6.23 x 1023? It
just makes our life simpler. Now let’s see how small the nucleus of an atom is? 0.00000000000001m?
Again, hard to read! How about writing it as 1x 10-14m?
In this lab you will learn how to convert numbers between scientific and decimal notations, and calculate
and express distances in different units.
Equipment Required:
Computer, calculator
Lab Procedures:
1. Double click on the “Start Virtual Astronomy Labs” icon on your desktop
2. Click on “1- Conversion between Scientific and Decimal Notation” under “Basic Science”
3. Click on “Open Lab Manual” and read the instructions for the lab
4. Click on the first exercise “Converting Numbers” under “Start Lab” and enter your results in the tables
below. You can check your answers by clicking on “Check your answer”
Every time you click on
these buttons you will get a
new question. Do two
questions for each exercise
and type the question and
answer in the corresponding
tables below in this lab
report
To check your answer type
it in this box and press Enter
1
5. After you finish, click on “Exit” to get to the next exercise
6. Complete Parts I to IV in this lab.
7. Save the lab report. Turn it in through Digital Dropbox in eCampus.
8. For the “Name” box in the Digital Dropbox, enter the name of the lab and the first and last names of
your group members.
Note: All distances in this lab are expressed as kilometers. Replace “miles” with “kilometers” for your
answers.
Conversions:
1 Astronomical Unit (AU) = 93,000,000 miles or 1.5 x 1011 meters.
Speed of light = 300,000,000 meters/sec, or 186,000 miles/sec
1 year = 3.15 x 107 sec
1 light year = 9.46 x 1015 meters or 5.88 x 1012 miles.
Part I: Converting Numbers
Note: To type a number in scientific notation do the following:
a) Type the number, for example: 6.15 x 10-9
b) Highlight the exponent
c) Click on the “Superscript” button on the tool bar under the “Home” tab:
d) Your number will now be in scientific notation: 6.15 x 10-9
i) Scientific to Decimal
No
1
2
Scientific Notation
Decimal Notation
ii) Decimal to Scientific
No
1
2
Decimal Notation
Scientific Notation
iii) Random Problem
2
No
1
2
Notation
Notation
Part II: Arithmetic in Scientific Notation
i) Multiplying Numbers
No
1
2
Problem
Answer
ii) Dividing Numbers
No
1
2
Problem
Answer
ii) Random Problem
No
1
2
Problem
Answer
Part III: The Scale of the Universe
i) AU to km
No
1
2
AU
km
ii) AU to light years
No
1
2
Light years
AU
3
iii) Light years to km
(Note read “miles” as “km”)
No
1
2
Light years
km
iv) Random Problem
No
1
2
Part IV: Time for a Journey
i) Go to a planet
No
1
2
Planet distance (AU)
Speed of travel (km/h)
Time (days)
Speed of travel (km/h)
Time (years)
Speed of travel (km/h)
Time (years)
Speed of travel (km/h)
Time
ii) Go to a Star
No
1
2
Star distance (ly)
iii) Go to a galaxy
No
1
2
Star distance (million ly)
iv) Random problem
No
1
2
Distance
4