Ücretsiz Kullanmaya Başla

Scientific notation Transitional Reasoning Practice

Physics · Introduction to Physics · Physics · Measurement & Units

11 Physics practice questions on Scientific notation. Questions that build towards applied reasoning.

Layout:

Choose how questions appear in the preview and test.

Preview the questions below, then start to answer and see your results.

Questions

  1. 1.

    In a particle physics experiment, an unstable subatomic particle decays, resulting in a mass defect of 4.5×10−304.5 \times 10^{-30} kg that is converted entirely into radiant energy. A physicist determines the equivalent released energy using the relation E=mc2E = m c^2, where the speed of light in a vacuum is 3.0×1083.0 \times 10^8 m/s. Which value correctly expresses this released energy, in joules, using standard scientific notation?

    • A) 1.35×10−211.35 \times 10^{-21} J
    • B) 4.05×10−154.05 \times 10^{-15} J
    • C) 4.05×10−144.05 \times 10^{-14} J
    • D) 4.05×10−134.05 \times 10^{-13} J
  2. 2.

    During an optics calibration procedure, a micro-actuator exerts a constant force of 6.4×10−56.4 \times 10^{-5} N to shift an optical mirror by a distance of 0.0025 m in the direction of the force. A technician calculates the mechanical work performed by multiplying the force by the displacement (W=F⋅dW = F \cdot d). Which value correctly expresses this work in joules using standard scientific notation?

    • A) 1.6×10−91.6 \times 10^{-9} J
    • B) 1.6×10−81.6 \times 10^{-8} J
    • C) 1.6×10−71.6 \times 10^{-7} J
    • D) 1.6×10−61.6 \times 10^{-6} J
  3. 3.

    An optical spectrometer detects a beam of monochromatic light with a wavelength of 6.0×10−76.0 \times 10^{-7} m propagating through a vacuum chamber. Using the relation c=fλc = f \lambda, where the speed of light is 3.0×1083.0 \times 10^8 m/s, an astrophysicist determines the oscillation frequency ff of the radiation. Which value correctly expresses this frequency, in hertz, in standard scientific notation?

    • A) 5.0×10165.0 \times 10^{16} Hz
    • B) 5.0×10145.0 \times 10^{14} Hz
    • C) 5.0×1015.0 \times 10^1 Hz
    • D) 2.0×10−152.0 \times 10^{-15} Hz
  4. 4.

    A materials scientist evaluates a microscopic cubical silicon component fabricated for an electronic sensor. The component has an edge length of 2.0×10−42.0 \times 10^{-4} m and a measured mass of 1.84×10−81.84 \times 10^{-8} kg. To verify the composition, the scientist calculates the density of the component by dividing its mass by its volume. Which value correctly expresses this density in standard scientific notation?

    • A) 2.3×10−192.3 \times 10^{-19} kg/m3^3
    • B) 2.3×1042.3 \times 10^4 kg/m3^3
    • C) 2.3×1032.3 \times 10^3 kg/m3^3
    • D) 9.2×10−59.2 \times 10^{-5} kg/m3^3
  5. 5.

    In an experiment on electromagnetic shielding, a sensor detects an unshielded electric field of 6.4×1046.4 \times 10^4 N/C. When a specialized conductive barrier is placed around the sensor, the measured field strength drops to 1.6×10−21.6 \times 10^{-2} N/C. To evaluate the barrier's effectiveness, a physicist calculates the attenuation ratio by dividing the unshielded field strength by the shielded field strength. Which value correctly expresses this ratio in standard scientific notation?

    • A) 4.0×1064.0 \times 10^6
    • B) 4.0×1024.0 \times 10^2
    • C) 4.0×10−64.0 \times 10^{-6}
    • D) 2.5×10−72.5 \times 10^{-7}
  6. 6.

    A pulsed laser in an optics laboratory delivers an energy of 1.8×10−31.8 \times 10^{-3} J uniformly across a square target of side length 3.0×10−33.0 \times 10^{-3} m. To evaluate surface heating, an experimental physicist calculates the areal energy density by dividing the pulse energy by the cross-sectional area of the target. Which value correctly represents this areal energy density, in joules per square meter, in standard scientific notation?

    • A) 2.0×10−12.0 \times 10^{-1}
    • B) 2.0×1022.0 \times 10^{2}
    • C) 2.0×1032.0 \times 10^{3}
    • D) 2.0×1042.0 \times 10^{4}
  7. 7.

    A laboratory technician measures the mass of a volatile liquid sample during an evaporation test. The initial mass of the sample is 3.20×10−23.20 \times 10^{-2} g, and after a set duration, the remaining mass is recorded as 7.5×10−37.5 \times 10^{-3} g. To evaluate the evaporation rate, the technician calculates the mass lost by finding the difference between the initial and remaining values. Which value represents this lost mass in standard scientific notation?

    • A) 2.45×10−32.45 \times 10^{-3} g
    • B) 4.30×10−24.30 \times 10^{-2} g
    • C) 2.45×10−22.45 \times 10^{-2} g
    • D) 2.45×10−12.45 \times 10^{-1} g
  8. 8.

    A materials scientist measures a tightly packed stack of 800 identical thin polymer films and records a total height of 0.096 cm. To model the microscopic properties of the material, the scientist needs to determine the average thickness of a single film in meters. Which value correctly expresses this individual film thickness in standard scientific notation?

    • A) 1.2×10−41.2 \times 10^{-4} m
    • B) 1.2×10−51.2 \times 10^{-5} m
    • C) 1.2×10−71.2 \times 10^{-7} m
    • D) 1.2×10−61.2 \times 10^{-6} m
  9. 9.

    An optical sensor uses a protective dual-layer coating on its front glass. The base antireflective layer has a thickness of 4.8×10−74.8 \times 10^{-7} m, and an outer scratch-resistant layer has a thickness of 7.5×10−87.5 \times 10^{-8} m. To evaluate light transmission, a technician determines the combined thickness of the coating by adding the two layers together. Which value correctly represents this total thickness in standard scientific notation?

    • A) 1.23×10−61.23 \times 10^{-6} m
    • B) 1.23×10−71.23 \times 10^{-7} m
    • C) 5.55×10−85.55 \times 10^{-8} m
    • D) 5.55×10−75.55 \times 10^{-7} m
  10. 10.

    During a semiconductor testing procedure, a sensitive detector records a steady current of 0.000072 A flowing through a microchip channel for an interval of 0.0050 s. The total transferred electric charge is determined by multiplying the current by the time elapsed. Which value correctly expresses this total charge in standard scientific notation?

    • A) 3.6×10−73.6 \times 10^{-7} C
    • B) 36×10−836 \times 10^{-8} C
    • C) 3.6×10−83.6 \times 10^{-8} C
    • D) 3.6×10−63.6 \times 10^{-6} C
  11. 11.

    An environmental physics laboratory analyzes an air sample containing 4,800,000 suspended dust particles distributed uniformly across a volume of 0.025 cubic meters. A researcher determines the particle concentration by dividing the total count by the volume and records the result in standard scientific notation. Which expression represents this concentration correctly?

    • A) 1.92×1041.92 \times 10^4 particles per cubic meter
    • B) 19.2×10719.2 \times 10^7 particles per cubic meter
    • C) 1.92×1061.92 \times 10^6 particles per cubic meter
    • D) 1.92×1081.92 \times 10^8 particles per cubic meter

Answers and step-by-step solutions appear after you finish the test.