Texas Instruments TI-30X IIS User Manual page 14

Star Voyage — Scientific Notation
Activity
Present the following problem to students:
You are a captain of a starship. You have been
assigned to go to Alpha Centauri and you have
5 years to get there. The distance from the sun to
Alpha Centauri is 2.5 x 10
from the earth to the sun is approximately
7
9.3 x 10 miles. Your ship can travel at the speed of
light. You know that light can travel a distance of
12
6 x 10 miles in 1 light year. Will you be able to
get to Alpha Centauri on time?
Procedure
1. Using the TI-30X ÖS, find the total distance you
need to travel.
2.5 Q 10 + 9.3 Q 10
13
2. Next, find out how long it will take you to travel
the distance. (distance traveled P 1 light year)
2.5000093 Q 10
3. Can you make the trip in the given time?
Yes
Extension
Now that you have been successful, you have been
asked to make another trip. The distance from the
Sun to Delta Centauri is 9 x 10
will it take you to get there from Earth?
15 years
© 1999 T I
EXAS NSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
13
miles. The distance
= 2.5000093 Q 10
7
P 6 Q 10
13 12
= 4.166682167 years
13
miles. How long
Hint: Make sure your calculator
is in scientific notation mode
before beginning addition.
13
miles
Hint: The Earth is approximately
9.3 x 10
TI-30X ÙS: A Guide for Teachers
(Continued)
7
miles from the Sun.
7