Laboratory SCIENTIFIC NOTATION AND CONVERSION OF UNITS

Activity No.
1

OBJECTIVES:
1. To utilize and manipulate numbers involving scientific notations.
2. To convert a given physical quantity from one system of unit to another.

MATERIALS: conversion factors, calculator

THEORY: Scientific Notation is a shortcut way to write very large or very small
numbers. Scientific notation is a notation in the form
n
a × 10 ,
where a= the decimal notation reduced to a decimal number between one and ten
(including one and excluding ten)
n = the exponent reduced to an integer.

Notes:
23
2.48 × 10 is scientific notation.
7
0.375 × 10 is not scientific notation, as there is no figure to the left of the
decimal point, but rather a zero.
–9
23.12478 × 10 is not scientific notation, as there are two figures to the left of
the decimal point.
0
3.14 × 10 is the scientific notation for 3.14.
Common notation N can be written into scientific notation by transferring the decimal
point either to the left or right of the common notation until the number reaches a number
n
less than ten bit equal or more than one, this is the a value of of scientific notation a x 10
. The n value is the number of times the decimal point was transferred and is positive if
the transfer is to the right, while negative if the transfer is to the left.

Example:
1. 32,000,000 = 3.2 x 107
( The n is seven because the decimal point was transferred seven times to the left
to reach the a value of 3.2, a number less than ten and equal or greater than 1.)
2. 0.00045 = 4.5 x 10-4
(The n value is -4 since this time the decimal point was transferred to the right 4 times
to reach the a value of 4.5, again a number less than 1 but greater than 1. )

To determine the common notation given the scientific notation, the reverse is followed.

Example
-3
1. 2.5 x 10 = 0.0025
(The decimal point of 2.5 was transferred three times to the right since its negative to
come up with 0.0025)
4
2. 1.29 x 10 = 12,900
( The decimal point of 1.29 was transferred to the left four times since four is negative to
come up with 12,900.)

Physics For Engineers Laboratory Module 1

 Mathematical operations involving scientific notations:

1. Addition and Subtraction: The addition and subtraction operations are performed
n
only on the “a” values of the scientific notation a × 10 . These operations can also be
done only when all the scientific notations have a common exponent “n” value.

3 4 2
Example: 2.48 x 10 + 4.25 x 10 – 3.2 x 10 = _________
Solution:
These scientific notations cannot be added/subtracted since the exponents are
not similar. Hence, the exponents must be the same. The n values of each given
number is converted to the highest n value given. This can be attained by
transferring the decimal point either to the left or right for each number to come
up with a common n value for all given numbers. Doing this will give us
4 4 4 4
0.248 x 10 + 4.25 x 10 – 0.032 x 10 = 4.466 x 10
2. Multiplication and Division: The multiplication and division operations
n
are performed both on the “a” values and on the 10 values.
n m n+m
For multiplication: (a x 10 ) (b x 10 ) = (a x b) x 10
n m n-m
For Division: (a x 10 )/(b x 10 ) = (a/b) x 10
Examle:
1. (6 x 103)(3 x 10-6) = 6(3) x 103+(-6)
= -3
18 x 10
= -3+1
1.8 x 10
= -2
1.8 x 10
2. (8.2 x 10-3)(2 x 10-5) = (8.2/2) x 10-3-(-5)
= 2
4.1 x 10
n m mn
3. Power: (a x 10 ) = a x 10
Example:
9 3 9 3
(10 ) = (1 x 10 )
= 9x3
1 x 10
= 27
1 x 10
= 27
10 (this can only be written in this form if the a value is equal to 1)
Conversion of Units is the interpretation of one system of units to another. To convert
from one system of unit to another, conversion factors are used such as:
1 mile = 5280 feet = 1.609 kilometers
1 meter = 3.281 feet = 39.37 inches
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
1 hour = 60 minutes = 3600 seconds

(Note: for other conversion factors, refer to the lecture manual or any physics book)

Example: 1.Convert 350 lbs to kg

350 lbs x 1 kg = 159.09 kg
2.2 lbs
2.Convert 40 mi/hr to a.) ft/s and b.) m/s

a.) 40 mi = 40 mi x 5280 ft/mi = 58.67 ft/sec

1 hour 1 hr x 3600sec/hr
b.) 58.67 ft = 58.67 ft x 1m/3.281 ft = 17.88 m/s

1 sec s

Physics For Engineers Laboratory Module 2

 NAME:___________________________________________ RATING:_____________
GROUP NO.______________________________________ DATE: ______________
LABORATORY SCHEDULE: _____________________________________________

LABORATORY ACTIVITY NO. 1

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION AND CONVERSION OF UNITS

Problems:

A. In this section, write the numbers in common notation to scientific notation

and write the numbers in scientific notation to common notation.
1.200 = __________________________ 4. 7.31 x 1011 = _______________
-12
2.0.0000000000033 = _______________ 5.3.23 x 10 = _______________
3.2, 134, 567, 890 = ________________ 6. 6.124 x 10-5 = _______________

B. Perform the indicated operations involving scientific notations (note:

express answers also in scientific notations)

1. 3.28 x 104 + 21.00 x 101 – 345.00 x 102 = _________________

2. (20,000) (24,000,000) = __________________
0.00000035
3. (6.6 x 103) (4.5 x 107) = __________________

8
7.0 x 10
4. (2.3 x 10-21)(2.00 x 108) = __________________

5. (10-6)(10-2) = __________________
9
10
C. Complete the following:
1.500 ft = ___________ mi

2. 4.5 m2 = ___________ in
2

3.80 km/hr = ___________ m/s

4. 1200 cm3 = ___________ ft
3

5. 20.7 kg/m3 = ___________ g/cm

3

COMPUTATIONS:

Physics For Engineers Laboratory Module 3

 CONCLUSIONS:
1. ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Physics For Engineers Laboratory Module 4