Converting and Interpreting Scientific Notation Quiz

A scientist measures the distance to a star as 4.5 million kilometers. Convert this distance to scientific notation.

• 4.5 x 10^5 km

• 45 x 10^6 km

• 4.5 x 10^6 km

• 4.5 x 10^7 km

The population of a small town is 12,000 people. Write this population in scientific notation.

• 1.2 x 10^4

• 1.2 x 10^3

• 12 x 10^3

• 0.12 x 10^5

A virus can reproduce 1,000 times in one hour. Express this number in scientific notation.

• 1.0 x 10^3

• 1.0 x 10^4

• 10 x 10^2

• 1.0 x 10^2

The mass of a grain of sand is approximately 0.0001 grams. Convert this mass to scientific notation.

• 0.1 x 10^-3

• 1.0 x 10^-4

• 10 x 10^-5

• 1.0 x 10^4

A computer can process 2,500,000 calculations per second. Write this number in scientific notation.

• 25 x 10^5

• 2.5 x 10^5

• 2.5 x 10^6

• 2.5 x 10^7

The speed of light is about 300,000,000 meters per second. Convert this speed to scientific notation.

• 3.0 x 10^7

• 3.0 x 10^8

• 30 x 10^6

• 300 x 10^5

A water molecule has a mass of 0.000000018 grams. Write this mass in scientific notation.

• 1.8 x 10^9 grams

• 1.8 x 10^-9 grams

• 18 x 10^-10 grams

• 0.18 x 10^-8 grams

The Earth is about 12,742 kilometers in diameter. Express this diameter in scientific notation.

• 1.2742 x 10^4

• 127.42 x 10^2

• 1.2742 x 10^3

• 12.742 x 10^3

A typical human cell has a diameter of about 0.00001 meters. Convert this measurement to scientific notation.

• 10 x 10^-6

• 1.0 x 10^5

• 0.0001 x 10^-4

• 1.0 x 10^-5

The number of bacteria in a colony can reach 1,000,000,000. Write this number in scientific notation.

• 1.0 x 10^9

• 1.0 x 10^7

• 1.0 x 10^8

• 1.0 x 10^10