Powers of Ten

On the computer to write 2 to the 3rd power we could write the equation using the 2 and then put the 3 slightly up in the "superscript" position. This would indicate that the calculation would become 2 times 2 times 2. This is in effect 2 to the third power. On computers we would possibly use the "^" symbol to indicate "powers". This depends on what program you are using at the time. In a word processor you can use a superscript but it will not actually do the math. In a spreadsheet program you can use the "^" or parentheses and the "*" to indicate and perform the multiplication. The "*" symbol is use for multiplication to prevent confusion with an "x" which could be representing an unknown in an algebraic equation.

Sometimes computers will display very large or very small numbers in "scientific notation". When this is done you may see a number with a minus and then another number which would show how far to move the decimal point to the left. If you see a number then a plus and another number that would indicate how far to move the decimal point to the right.

When we use the base 10 system of measurement however then we have a very important set of comparisons available to us. If we use large negative numbers then we can better represent the sizes of things like bacteria, atoms, molecules, dust, microbes etc. When we use very large positive numbers we can better represent things like distances across a galaxy, from one galaxy to another, or to the edge of the universe.

Our number system is a "base 10" system. The computer uses a "base two" binary system. Both are accurate systems that are vital for the types of mathematics that are being performed. The computer needed a system that would work from "switch" positions that were either "on" or "off". Our system needed a way to represent nothing. The use of the "0" provides the extremely important representation of nothing or "place holder" and the base 10 system provides the flexibility of multiplication and division that really makes this a powerful mathematical system.

The powers of ten graphics can be combined into one large chart or could be used as individual sections when talking about specific topics. The graphic that starts with a "light year" unit is a great chart to use when describing the vast distances in space. A light year is a unit that represents the distance that light can travel in one full year. The closest star to the Earth other than the sun is over 4 light years away from the Earth.

Some one celled organisms are just barely visible with the human eye, but bacteria are so small we can not see them without the aid of a microscope, but we can still measure them if we go into the range of negative very small powers of ten. Viruses are even smaller than bacteria and a molecule much smaller than that but again we still can make measurements.