Question

The average distance from the sun to the planet Venus is about 261,000,000 km. The diameter of a human hair is about 0.0025 cm. (a) What is the distance from the sun to Venus written in scientific notation? (b) What is the diameter of a human hair written in scientific notation? (c) In comparing the measurements in parts a and b, what else must be done before a comparison can be made?

A) (a) 2.61 x 10^8 km, (b) 2.5 x 10^-3 cm, (c) Convert units to the same system
B) (a) 26.1 x 10^7 km, (b) 2.5 x 10^3 cm, (c) Find the ratio of the two measurements
C) (a) 261 x 10^6 km, (b) 2.5 x 10^-4 cm, (c) Take the square root of both values
D) (a) 2.61 x 10^7 km, (b) 25 x 10^-4 cm, (c) Calculate the difference between the two measurements

Answer 1

The distance from the sun to Venus is 2.61 x 10^8 km and the diameter of a human hair is 2.5 x 10^-3 cm. Therefore, the correct answer is: A) (a) 2.61 x 10^8 km, (b) 2.5 x 10^-3 cm, (c) Convert units to the same system.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's evaluate each part of the question:

(a) The distance from the sun to Venus is 261,000,000 km. In scientific notation, it is expressed as 2.61 x 10^8 km.

(b) The diameter of a human hair is 0.0025 cm. In scientific notation, it is expressed as 2.5 x 10^-3 cm.

(c) In comparing the measurements in parts (a) and (b), what else must be done before a comparison can be made?

To make a meaningful comparison, you need to ensure that the units are the same. In this case, you would need to convert either the distance to Venus or the diameter of the human hair to the same unit system. Since the distance to Venus is in kilometers and the diameter of the hair is in centimeters, you need to choose a consistent unit for comparison.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

A) (a) 2.61 x 10^8 km, (b) 2.5 x 10^-3 cm, (c) Convert units to the same system