Final answer:
The atomic nucleus diameter of about 10⁻¹² centimeters is equivalent to approximately 10⁻¹⁴ meters in standard form, showing the nucleus's extreme compactness in comparison to the whole atom.
Step-by-step explanation:
The diameter of the nucleus of an atom, which is about 10⁻¹² centimeters, can be expressed in standard form as approximately 10⁻¹⁴ meters (m). When converting from centimeters to meters, we use the conversion factor that 1 meter is equal to 100 centimeters.
Therefore, the diameter of the nucleus in meters is 1 × 10⁻¹² cm × (1 m / 100 cm) = 1 × 10⁻¹⁴ m. This size is consistent with our understanding of atomic structure where the nucleus is much smaller than the overall diameter of the atom, which is about the order of 10⁻¹⁰ m.
Atoms are composed of a dense nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons. The nucleus is extraordinarily dense and if the earth's density were comparably dense, the earth's radius would be a mere 200 meters.