Mastering Scientific Notation: Real-World Challenges

1. A scientist measures the mass of a small particle as 3.5 x 10^-9 grams. Later, she measures another particle with a mass of 2.1 x 10^-9 grams. What is the total mass of both particles in scientific notation?

• 5.6 x 10^-9 grams

• 4.5 x 10^-9 grams

• 3.0 x 10^-9 grams

• 6.0 x 10^-9 grams

2. A cell phone tower emits a signal strength of 5.0 x 10^-3 watts. If another tower emits 3.2 x 10^-3 watts, what is the combined signal strength of both towers?

• 6.2 x 10^-3 watts

• 8.2 x 10^-3 watts

• 9.0 x 10^-3 watts

• 7.5 x 10^-3 watts

3. A comet is traveling at a speed of 2.5 x 10^4 meters per second. If it slows down by 1.2 x 10^4 meters per second, what is its new speed in scientific notation?

• 1.3 x 10^4 m/s

• 3.7 x 10^4 m/s

• 1.5 x 10^4 m/s

• 2.0 x 10^4 m/s

4. The distance from Earth to a nearby star is approximately 4.2 x 10^16 meters. If a spaceship travels 1.5 x 10^16 meters towards the star, how far is it from the star now?

• 1.0 x 10^16 meters

• 2.7 x 10^16 meters

• 3.5 x 10^16 meters

• 5.0 x 10^16 meters

5. A factory produces 1.2 x 10^5 widgets in a day. If production increases by 3.5 x 10^4 widgets the next day, how many widgets are produced in total over the two days?

• 1.2 x 10^5

• 1.55 x 10^5

• 1.9 x 10^5

• 1.3 x 10^5

6. An astronaut collects 2.3 x 10^3 samples from Mars. If he loses 1.1 x 10^3 samples during transport, how many samples does he have left?

• 1.0 x 10^3

• 2.0 x 10^3

• 1.3 x 10^3

• 1.2 x 10^3

7. A computer processes data at a rate of 4.0 x 10^6 bytes per second. If it processes an additional 2.5 x 10^6 bytes in the next second, what is the total amount of data processed in that second?

• 7.5 x 10^6 bytes

• 6.5 x 10^6 bytes

• 5.0 x 10^6 bytes

• 4.5 x 10^6 bytes

8. A research study shows that the average height of a plant species is 1.8 x 10^2 centimeters. If another species has an average height of 2.4 x 10^2 centimeters, what is the total average height of both species?

• 4.2 x 10^2 centimeters

• 1.0 x 10^2 centimeters

• 5.0 x 10^2 centimeters

• 3.2 x 10^2 centimeters

9. A satellite orbits Earth at a height of 3.6 x 10^7 meters. If it descends by 1.2 x 10^7 meters, what is its new height in scientific notation?

• 2.4 x 10^7

• 2.0 x 10^7

• 1.2 x 10^7

• 3.6 x 10^7

10. A library has 5.0 x 10^4 books. If it acquires an additional 2.5 x 10^4 books, how many books does the library have in total?

• 5.0 x 10^4

• 10.0 x 10^4

• 2.5 x 10^4

• 7.5 x 10^4