Name: estimating scale with powers of 10
Uploaded: 2023-05-16T08:18:39.000Z
Duration: 1 min 15 s
Channel: JoVE

In fisica, ci imbattiamo in una vasta gamma di oggetti, dai quark, la cosa più piccola che esiste nell'universo, al sole, la cosa più grande che possiamo vedere.
È difficile avere un'idea della grandezza o della piccolezza di tali oggetti. Per esprimere tali quantità, usiamo il concetto di ordini di grandezza, o metodo delle potenze di dieci.
Qui, tutti i numeri sono approssimati alla potenza di dieci più vicina alla quantità data. Ad esempio, il raggio del nucleo di ferro è di 4,6 femtometri; Questo non è il valore esatto del raggio, ma piuttosto solo un'approssimazione dell'ordine di grandezza.
4,6 femtometri possono essere scritti come 4,6 volte 10 per la potenza negativa 15; quindi, il raggio del nucleo ha un ordine di grandezza di meno quindici.
Gli ordini di grandezza aiutano a fare determinate ipotesi e semplificano i calcoli.
Ad esempio, quando si calcola l'accelerazione dovuta alla gravità su un oggetto che cade da un edificio, l'altezza dell'edificio viene trascurata, poiché è di pochi ordini di grandezza inferiore al raggio terrestre.

<ol>
	<li>OpenStax. (2019). Fisica universitaria Vol. 1. [Versione web]. Estratto da pagina 10 <a href="https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-1-the-scope-and-scale-of-physics">https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-1-the-scope-and-scale-of-physics</a></li>
</ol>

ordini di grandezza

Orders of Magnitude

L'ordine di grandezza di un numero è la potenza di 10 che più si approssima ad esso. Pertanto, l'ordine di grandezza stima la scala (o la dimensione) del suo valore. Per trovare l'ordine di grandezza di un numero, bisogna prendere il logaritmo in base -10 del numero e arrotondarlo all'intero più vicino. Quindi l'ordine di grandezza del numero è semplicemente la potenza risultante di 10.

L'ordine di grandezza è semplicemente un modo per arrotondare i numeri costantemente alla potenza più vicina di 10. Questo rende più facile fare calcoli a mente approssimativi con numeri molto grandi e molto piccoli. Per esempio, il diametro di un atomo di idrogeno è dell'ordine di 10-10 m mentre, il diametro del Sole ha ordine di 109 m, quindi servono approssimativamente 109/10-10=1019 atomi di idrogeno per completare il diametro del Sole. Così è molto più facile da elaborare mentalmente, rispetto all'usare valori più precisi come 1,06x10-10 m per il diametro dell'atomo di idrogeno e 1,39x109 m per quello del Sole e, per calcolare quanti atomi di idrogeno servirebbero a completare il diametro del Sole si dovrebbe fare 1,31x1019. In più la stima approssimativa oltre ad essere più facile, è anche esplicativa quasi tanto quanto il calcolo preciso.

Ordini di grandezza

L'ordine di grandezza di un numero è la potenza di 10 che più si avvicina ad esso. Pertanto, l'ordine di grandezza stima la scala (o la dimensione) del suo ...

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estimating scale with powers of 10

Orders of magnitude help estimate the scale of a number using powers of 10. It is a simple way to round values to the nearest power of 10. This makes it easier to compare very large and very small numbers.

To find the order of magnitude of a number, take its base-10 logarithm and round to the nearest integer. The result gives the power of 10 that most closely matches the original value. This method gives a consistent estimate of size without using exact digits.

Orders of magnitude are useful for rough mental math. For example, the diameter of a hydrogen atom is on the order of 10^-10 m. The diameter of the Sun is on the order of 10^9 m, so about 10^19 hydrogen atoms would stretch across the Sun’s diameter.

That estimate is much easier to work out in your head than the precise values. Using 1.06×10^-10 m for a hydrogen atom and 1.39×10^9 m for the Sun gives 1.31×10^19 atoms. The rough estimate is still nearly as informative as the exact calculation.

Estimating Scale with Powers of 10

the scope of physics

How Physics Shapes Science and Technology

Physics studies the interactions of energy, matter, space, and time. It looks for the basic mechanisms that explain natural phenomena. The word physics comes from the Greek word physis, which means nature. Physics helps us understand the natural world at its most fundamental level. It relies on quantitative laws, or rules written in numbers and measurements, to describe how things behave. That approach can also help other fields improve the limits of current technology. Physics matters in...

orders of magnitude

Orders of magnitude help estimate the scale of a number using powers of 10. It is a simple way to round values to the nearest power of 10. This makes it easier to compare very large and very small numbers. To find the order of magnitude of a number, take its base-10 logarithm and round to the nearest integer. The result gives the power of 10 that most closely matches the original value. This method gives a consistent estimate of size without using exact digits. Orders of magnitude are useful...

models, theories, and laws

Scientific Models, Theories, and Laws

Scientific models, theories, and laws help physicists describe natural phenomena. A model is a simplified version of a physical system that is too complex to study in full. It acts as a rough mental or visual picture of what may be happening. Good models keep the important parts and simplify the rest so the problem becomes workable. The light wave model is one example. Light waves are usually invisible, so they cannot be seen in the same way as water waves. Even so, it is useful to think of...

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units and standards of measurement

SI Units for Physical Quantities

SI units give a standard way to measure physical quantities. A physical quantity can be defined by how it is measured or by how it is calculated from other measurements. For example, the mass and dimensions of a metallic cube can be found with a weighing machine and a meter scale. Some quantities are built from others. The volume of a cube is the cube of its side length. The density of the cube is then found by dividing mass by volume. Measurements are written in units, which are standardized...

estimation of the physical quantities

Fermi Estimation for Physical Quantities

Fermi estimation helps physicists, scientists, and engineers make rough calculations for physical quantities. These estimates are also called guesstimates, order-of-magnitude approximations, back-of-the-envelope calculations, or Fermi calculations. Enrico Fermi was known for making these kinds of estimates with surprising precision. Estimation is not random guessing. It uses prior experience and sound physical reasoning to get a rough value for a quantity. This kind of reasoning helps build...

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base quantities and derived quantities

SI Base Units Behind Measured Quantities

SI base units are the starting point for measuring physical quantities. In any system of units, some quantities must be defined through direct measurement. These are called base quantities, and their units are base units. Other physical quantities are built from these base values by algebraic combinations. These are called derived quantities, and their units are derived units. For example, area comes from two lengths multiplied together. It is a derived quantity and is written in SI base units...

conversion of units

Unit Conversion Steps and Real-World Errors

Unit conversion lets you change a measurement from one unit to another. It is useful in everyday life, such as when a cookbook gives amounts in liters or ounces and you need cups instead. It also helps when directions use feet or meters, but you want to know the distance in miles. The first step is to list the given unit and the unit you need. The second step is to choose a conversion factor, which is a ratio that shows how many of one unit equal another unit. For example, 1,000 meters equal 1...

accuracy and precision

Repeated Measurements in Science

Repeated measurements help scientists check the quality of their results. They are used to judge both precision and accuracy. These two ideas are related, but they do not mean the same thing. Measurements are precise when repeated trials give very similar results. Precision shows how closely the values agree with one another. Measurements are accurate when the result is very close to the true value or the accepted value. Accuracy shows how closely the values agree with the real target. High...

random and systematic errors

How Measurement Errors Affect Results

Measurement errors can change how accurate and precise a result appears. Scientists try to record measurements as carefully as possible, but errors can still happen. These errors are usually random or systematic. Random errors come from inconsistency or fluctuation in the measuring process. They can also come from changes in the quantity being measured. In repeated measurements, random error may make a value appear greater than the true value one time and less than it the next. A simple...

rules for significant figures

Measurement Precision and Significant Figures

Measurement precision depends on the tool used, and significant figures show that precision. A ruler can measure length to the closest millimeter. A caliper can measure length to the nearest 0.01 mm, so it gives a more precise measurement because it can detect very small changes in length. When a value is written from a measurement, the last digit is not exact. The person making the measurement must estimate that digit. For example, a stick that seems to fall between 13.2 cm and 13.3 cm must...

significant figures in calculations

Rounding Rules for Significant Figures

Rounding rules for significant figures help show the right level of certainty in measured results. When a calculation is reported with the correct number of significant figures, it better matches the uncertainty in the measurements. The rounding rule depends on the type of math being done. For addition and subtraction, the result should have the same number of decimal places as the number with the fewest decimal places. For multiplication and division, the result should have the same number of...

dimensional analysis

Dimensional Checks in Physics Equations

Dimensional consistency is a key check in physics equations. It means the dimensions on both sides of an equation must match. The idea helps show whether an equation can represent a real physical law. The first rule is simple: expressions on each side of the equal sign must have the same dimensions. That makes sense because you can only add or subtract quantities of the same type. The second rule says that the input to a standard mathematical function, such as a trigonometric function, a...

problem solving: dimensional analysis

Dimensional Checks for Physics Equations

Dimensional analysis helps check whether physics equations make sense. It compares the dimensions on each side of an equation and shows whether the units are consistent. This method is useful for spotting algebra errors, typos, and for remembering physical laws. A valid equation must follow two rules. First, both sides of an equality must have the same dimension, so only quantities with matching dimensions can be added or subtracted. Second, common math functions such as exponential,...

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solving problems in physics

Physics Problem Solving: Strategy to Check

Physics problem solving uses general physical principles to work out specific situations. It is a key skill in physics, and it can also help with everyday life. The same analytical skills can be used in new situations, while a list of facts can never cover every possible case. Solving physics problems also takes creativity and insight. These skills grow with experience and practice. There is no simple step-by-step method that works for every problem, but a three-stage process can guide the...

key terms and concepts

Learn how orders of magnitude use powers of 10 to estimate size, compare huge and tiny numbers, and make rough mental math easier.

Estimating Scale with Powers of 10 | JoVE K12

physics

JoVE Core Physics introduces the theory and application of fundamental physics topics, including kinematics, dynamics, fluid mechanics, statics, waves, and acoustics, with concise and easy-to-understand animated videos. Additionally, the scientist-in-action videos demonstrate the application of related concepts in classical and original research experiments performed in today's laboratories worldwide.

Estimating Scale with Powers of 10

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