WebQuest Scientific Notation

Exploring Math and Science

Introduction

The exciting connections between mathematics and science are endless. Scientists from many fields use mathematics to express relationships and to measure the size and distance of objects. You have been selected to explore some of these connections.

The Task

To prepare for these explorations, you will need to review some topics in mathematics including exponents. You will then extend that review by learning about scientific notation. Next, you will demonstrate your understanding of these topics by completing a worksheet on scientific notation with problems from the field of science. You will then do independent online research to gather scientific facts. Lastly, you will create your own problems using the facts you gathered to apply what you learned. These tasks will require a computer, access to the web, paper and pencil.

The Process

Be sure to read through all of the directions in each section before you click and follow the links and instructions.

Process Part I: Review

  1. Browse our lesson on Multiplying Decimals and Whole Numbers.
  2. Review multiplying and dividing decimals by powers of ten in Problem 1 from the lesson above.
  3. Review our lesson on Exponents.
  4. Complete all five exercises at the end of the lesson.

Process Part II: Extend Your Knowledge

  1. Learn about Negative Exponents (external site).
  2. Read the notes below about scientific notation.
  3. Learn about Scientific Notation (external site).
  4. Complete our Worksheet on Scientific Notation (PDF).

Scientific notation is used to express very large or very small numbers. A number in scientific notation is written as the product of a number greater than or equal to one and less than ten, and a power of 10. The number between one and ten is called the coefficient, and can be an integer or a decimal. Below are some examples.

57,200,000 = 5.72 x 107
0.000 000 006 1 = 6.1 x 10-9

  1. Print the answer key for our Worksheet on Scientific Notation (PDF).
  2. Check your answers to see if you are correct.

Process Part III: Research To Gather Scientific Facts

Research the following topics below from the field of science. Gather ten scientific facts about these objects using the Internet. The data you gather will be very large and very small numbers.

  1. The distance in km from the sun to each planet.
  2. The distance in km from any planet to its moon.
  3. The half-life of certain radioactive elements.
  4. The size of bacteria and viruses.
  5. The size of an atom, nucleus or cell.
  6. The mass of an electron.

Process Part IV: Apply Your Knowledge

  1. Create your own worksheet on scientific notation from the data you have gathered. Your worksheet will consist of ten problems. You must include problems with positive exponents, and problems with negative exponents.
  2. Create an answer key for your worksheet (i.e., work out each problem and record the answer).
  3. Share your problems with a classmate or family member.

Resources

  1. Math Goodies lesson on Multiplying Decimals and Whole Numbers.
  2. Math Goodies lesson on Exponents.
  3. Free Math Help's Solving Negative Exponents.
  4. Math Goodies Worksheet on Scientific Notation (PDF).
  5. Math Goodies answer key for Worksheet on Scientific Notation (PDF).
  6. Science websites through independent online searches. Here are some sites to get you started:

Evaluation

  1. Print the answer key for our Worksheet on Scientific Notation (PDF) from Process Part II.
  2. Check your answers to see if you are correct.
  3. Have a classmate or family member complete the worksheet you created.
  4. Have a classmate or family member check your answers.
  5. Send us your best problems.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have learned about positive and negative exponents and about scientific notation. You did independent, online research to gather scientific facts. You expressed very large and very small numbers from these scientific facts in scientific notation.

Optional Activity

You can create a worksheet on scientific notation for data from Star Wars. For example, "The Kessel run is an 18-parsec route used to transport glitterstim spice from Kessel to an area south of the Si'Klaata Cluster. However, Han Solo, made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. A parsec is 3.26 light years." Write this number in scientific notation.

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