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Date____________________
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Focus Question Worksheet Unit 6, How Many?

We have talked about how atoms and molecules are very tiny, but we still do not know how many
atoms or molecules make up everyday objects: only that the number must be very large. With this in
mind, lets consider the following brain teaser:
Are there more water molecules in an 8 oz (250 mL) glass of water, or stars in the Milky Way
Galaxy?
Part 1. What do you think the answer to this question is? What evidence do you have? If I want to
estimate these numbers, what quantities would I need in order to do the calculation? How would I set the
calculation up?

Part 2. Calculate the number of molecules of water in an 8 oz glass. We will do the estimation for the
Milky Way Galaxy together, after the class discussion