Exploring the Nanoscale Dimension
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STEM ED/CHM Nanotechnology 2010
Exploring the Nanoscale Dimension
An Overview
Rulers and metersticks can be used to measure dimensions of objects that you
can easily with the unaided eye. Other instruments can be used to measure very
small dimensions, including the nanoscale dimension. In this activity you will record
and compare a wide range of measurements.
Meters, Centimeters, Millimeters, Microns, and Nanometers
Scientists use different measurements units to describe objects of different
dimensions. Examples include:
 2.5 centimeter = 2.5 x 10-2 meters.
 4.7 millimeter = 4.7 x 10-3 meters.
 6.0 micron = 6.0 x 10-6 meters.
Nanoscale scientists and engineers use a unit called a nanometer when they
describe or measure the dimensions of materials that they design and manufacture.
A nanometer is one billionth of a meter.
 nanometer = 1 x 10-9 meters.
The data table you will use in this activity has three columns. The first column
is used to describe a dimension that you have measured, calculated, or discovered.
The second column is used to record a dimension in meters. The third column is
used to record a dimension in nanometers. Notice that the examples of dimensions
are expressed using scientific notation.
An Example of Data Table Entries
The dimension measured
Measurement
Meters
Nanometers
The width of a classroom door
1.2 m
1.2 x 100 m
1.2 x 109 nm
The length of a science notebook
28 cm
2.8 x 10-1 m
2.8 x 108 nm
The average width of an opening in
a tennis racquet.
1.2 cm
1.2 x 10-2 m
1.2 x 107 nm
Exploring the Nanoscale Dimension
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Collect Data:
There are many ways to collect and record a complete set of
dimensions. Use a pencil to record data so that you can make changes if necessary.
Unaided Eye Measurements


Measure and record the dimension of an object using only a ruler or a
meterstick.
Make and record several measurements that are progressively smaller until
you reach the limit of effectiveness of a meterstick or centimeter ruler.
Use a magnifier


Make and record measurements that provide more entries in the data table.
You can also use the magnifier to make changes in measurements.
Use a USB Microscope: Information about directions for using and
calibrating USB microscopes is available at the USB station.
Measure the dimensions of openings in a window screen
1.
2.
3.
4.
Calibrate the USB Microscope.
Put a small piece of a coffee filter on the platform of the USB Microscope.
Set the magnification of the USB Microscope to 200x and use the top light.
Gently raise or lower the platform until the image of the coffee filter on
the computer screen comes into focus.
5. Use a ruler to determine the diameter of an image of an opening in the
coffee filter.
6. Use the magnification power to calculate the actual average size of the
opening in the coffee filter.
7. Record the average size of openings in a coffee filter in an appropriate row
on the data table.
Use a Spectrometer:
Spectrometers are instruments use a prism or a diffraction grating to separate
visible light into different colors of light that have different wavelengths. Two
models of spectrometers are available at the Spectrometer Station.
 The larger blue spectrometer indicates the wavelengths of visible light in
hundreds of nanometers.
 Aim the narrow slit of the spectroscope toward a fluorescent light on the
ceiling. If you slowly move the spectrometer you can get a visible light
spectrum to move onto a wavelength scale.
 Choose a color of light.
 Record the wavelength of a specific color of visible light in one of the rows
of the data table.
Exploring the Nanoscale Dimension
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Record the dimensions of other substances
Additional measurement data can be obtained and recorded by:
 Collecting data after forming a thin film of oleic acid on the surface of
water.
 Constructing a device that uses a simple machine to measure very small
dimensions.
 Using science textbooks, the Internet, or library resources to determine
the dimensions of substances if you are unable to unable to make an entry in
every row of the data table.
Using Scales to Compare Dimensions
A meterstick is an example of a linear scale. Each section of a meterstick is
evenly divided into centimeter and millimeter sections. It would be difficult to use
a linear scale to compare the dimensions with a very wide range of values. You can
discover why this is true if you:
 Use a strip of paper to draw a line with a length of 1 x 100 meters.
 Mark a section of the line that has a length of 1 x 10-1 meters
 Mark a section of the line that has a length of 1 x 10-2 meters
 Mark a section of the line that has a length of 1 x 10-3 meters
You would discover that it is very difficult to accurately mark a section of the
line that is shorter by another power of ten.
Scientists and mathematicians use a scale called a logarithmic scale when they
analyze a set of data with a very wide range of values. Each section of the
logarithmic scale represents a power of ten. However, each section is not evenly
divided like the sections of a meterstick.
There is a logarithmic scale next to the data table where you will record
measurements. There are two example of where a measurement would be placed on
the logarithmic scale.
You can use the marked divisions in each section of the logarithmic scale
indicate where each of your measurements should be placed.