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Powers of Ten Guide
STEM ED/CHM Nanotechnology 2012
Down the Powers of Ten Guide
This activity provides an opportunity for student to develop an understanding of the use of scientific notation to express progressively smaller dimensions. It also provides an opportunity for students to use a USB microscope to learn how technology can be used to generate an image that can be calibrated and used to make measurements of the dimensions of small structures.
Four activity stations provide an opportunity for student to enter data into the Data Table. Additional information on the activity sheet can be used to make entries in the data table
Sample Data Table Entries
The measurement of a dimension of an object or opening / Meters(in scientific notation) / Centimeters
(in scientific notation) / Nanometers
(in scientific notation)
The length of a meterstick / 1 x 100 / 1 x 102 / 1 x 109
The width of a classroom door / 8.5 x 10-1 / 8.5 x 101 / 8.5 x 108
The width of the opening in a small picture frame / 9.2 x 10-2 / 9.2 x 100 / 9.2 x 107
The length of one side of the opening in a window screen / 1.2 x 10-3 / 1.2 x 10-1 / 1.2 x 106
Fine coffee grounds / 5.0 x 10-4 / 5.0 x 10-2 / 5.0 x 105
The largest diameter of an opening in a coffee filter / 5.1 x 10-5 / 5.1 x 10-3 / 5.1 x 104
The smallest diameter of an opening in a coffee filter / 1.5 x 10-6 / 1.5 x 10-4 / 1.5 x 103
An example of the wavelength of blue light / 4.75 x 10-7 / 4.75 x 10-5 / 4.75 x 102
The length of a virus / 2.7 x 10-8 / 2.7 x 10-6 / 2.7 x 101
Object measured with an
Atomic Force Microscope / 2.2 x 10-9 / 2.2 x 10-7 / 2.2 x 100
Diameter of an ion / 6.7 x 10-10 / 6.7 x 10-8 / 6.7 x 10-1
Sample answer to Question 1: The openings in a tennis racquet are 100 times larger than the width of the classroom door.
The Magnifier Station
Sample answer to Question 2: Factors that limit the accuracy of measurements with rulers include the need to estimate to the nearest tenth of a millimeter.
The magnifier station requires that measurements be estimated to the nearest tenth of a millimeter. A discussion of significant digits in measurements can be incorporated into a discussion of both the unaided eye and magnifier station.
Sample answer to Question 3: Student answers will vary but will often result in measurements as small as 10-4 meters.
The USB Microscope Station
More detailed information about the use of USB microscopes is available at the USB station. This activity provides an opportunity for students to learn how technology and computer generated images can be used to make more accurate measurements of very small objects.
Sample answer to Question 4: The coffee filters seem to be made of paper fibers of different diameters that are pressed into a sheet. This produces openings of different sizes.
Sample answer to Question 5: The coffee grounds seem to range from 10 times larger than the openings in the coffee filter to 100 times larger.
The Spectrometer Station
The Project Star Spectrometer is available for less than $40 at:
· http://sciencekit.com/project-star-spectrometer/p/IG0023913/
· http://wardsci.com/product.asp?pn=IG0009252&Project+STAR+Spectrometer&bhcd2=1230850403
· http://www.amazon.com/WARDS-NATURAL-SCIENCE-Spectrometer-Project/dp/B005HYNFW4
· http://www.carolina.com/product/earth+and+environmental+science/space+science/project+star+plastic+spectrometer.do?sortby=ourPicks
Sample answer to Question 6: The length of the bacteria is 8.8 x 10-7 meters.
Sample answer to Question 7: The length is 2.7 x 10-8 meters
Sample answer to Question 8: The length is 2.2 x 10-9 m and 2.2 x 10-7 cm.
Sample answer to Question 9: The length is 6.7 x 10-10 m and 6.7 x 10-1 nm.
Sample answer to Question 10: The ion is 40.2 times smaller than the virus.
2.7 x 10-8 meters = 0.402 x 102 = 40.2
6.7 x 10-10 meters
Examples of Powers of Ten Web Sites
An updated version of the classic Powers of Ten movie
· http://www.powersof10.com/film
The following web site has students click on a scale along a scale on the left to see an image somewhere on the Powers of Ten Scale. They can click or hide data.
· http://www.powersof10.com/
The following web site has students click on an image on the page. A color scale can then be used to move up or down the Powers of Ten by one, two or three powers.
· http://www.wordwizz.com/pwrsof10.htm
The following web site has students click on marks along a ruler to move up or down the Powers of Ten Scale.
· http://microcosm.web.cern.ch/Microcosm/P10/english/welcome.html
There is also the Homer Simpson version of the Powers of Ten movie.
· http://www.collegehumor.com/video/46485