Size Really Does Matter
Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to put images and
very large and small numbers together and to convert
numbers within the metric system.
Information: It is sometimes difficult to relate to objects
that are really, really large or very, very small.
When expressing large or small numbers
scientific notation is often used. In proper
coloringhub.com
scientific notation there is only 1 nonzero digit to the
left of the decimal point. The magnitude of the number is expressed with an
exponent.
Nanometers are used to describe the size of things that are too small to see.
There are one billion (1,000,000,000) nanometers in one meter. In scientific
notation that would be 1 x 109nm.
Materials: 4 or 5 Sizing Things Down cards, What is the Length ofYour Hand? sheet
Procedure:
Sizing Things Down
1.Players should each have four or five cards with three additional cards placed
face up on the table. These cards form the three columns to play off of. The
youngest player begins the play.
2.Players take turns adding a card from their hand above or below one of the
columns of cards.
3.Cards must be played in the correct size order - smaller objects played on the
bottom of the column while larger objects go at the top. (Each card has a
number on it that tells you how big or small the object is. Bigger objects have
positive numbers. Smaller objects have negative numbers.)
4.Cards can’t be played if they are identical in rank to the end of the column nor
can a card be inserted into the middle of a column - cards can only be played
on the top or bottom of the column.
5.If you can't play a card, pass on your turn. Whoever gets rid of all their cards
first wins! If no one can get rid of every card, the player with the fewest cards
wins.
How big is your hand?
1.Measure your hand using the reference sheet. Write the value here. Check for
reasonable measurements and conversions for questions 1 and 2.
2.According to the ruler shown at the left side of the page, how big is your hand
in centimeters?
Summing Up:
1.Saturn, Jupiter, and the rest of the planets are very large! We ought to be able
to see them with our naked eyes, but we can’t. Why do we need a telescope to
see the planets?
Telescopes are needed because of their great distance away from us.
2.Cells are too small for us to see with our naked eyes. What does a microscope
do that allows us to see cells?
The small size of cells requires the magnification of a microscope for us to see
them
3.If you made four cuts in your paper strip in the
activity Cut it Out!, you ended up with a piece of
paper about the width of a sugar cube. A sugar
cube measures about 9,000,000nm. Convert to
meters. Show your work below.
0.009 m
2.54 cm = 1 inch
1 meter = 100 cm
1,000,000,000 nm = 1m
4.a. Cindy is 60 inches tall. Use conversion factors to convert her height to
nanometers. You will have to use more than one conversion factor to get the
answer. Show all conversion factors used so you can earn full credit.
1,524,000,000 nm
5.Express Cindy’s height in nanometers using correct scientific notation.
1.524 x 109 nm
Game from NISE network and activity based on How Many Nanometers Tall Are You?
developed by the Sciencecenter.
Size Really Does Matter
Purpose: The purpose of this activity is to put images and
very large and small numbers together and to convert
numbers within the metric system.
Information: It is sometimes difficult to relate to objects
that are really, really large or very, very small.
When expressing large or small numbers
scientific notation is often used. In proper
coloringhub.com
scientific notation there is only 1 nonzero digit to the
left of the decimal point. The magnitude of the number is expressed with an
exponent.
Nanometers are used to describe the size of things that are too small to see.
There are one billion (1,000,000,000) nanometers in one meter. In scientific
notation that would be 1 x 109nm.
Materials: 4 or 5 Sizing Things Down cards, How Big is Your Hand? sheet
Procedure:
Sizing Things Down
1.Players should each have four or five cards with three additional cards placed
face up on the table. These cards form the three columns to play off of. The
youngest player begins the play.
2.Players take turns adding a card from their hand above or below one of the
columns of cards.
3.Cards must be played in the correct size order - smaller objects played on the
bottom of the column while larger objects go at the top. (Each card has a
number on it that tells you how big or small the object is. Bigger objects have
positive numbers. Smaller objects have negative numbers.)
4.Cards can’t be played if they are identical in rank to the end of the column nor
can a card be inserted into the middle of a column - cards can only be played
on the top or bottom of the column.
5.If you can't play a card, pass on your turn. Whoever gets rid of all their cards
first wins! If no one can get rid of every card, the player with the fewest cards
wins.
How big is your hand?
1.Measure your hand using the How Big is Your Hand? reference sheet. Write
the value here.
2.According to the ruler shown at the left side of the page, how big is your hand
in centimeters?
Summing Up:
1.Saturn, Jupiter, and the rest of the planets are very large! We ought to be able
to see them with our naked eyes, but we can’t. Why do we need a telescope to
see the planets?
2.Cells are too small for us to see with our naked eyes. What does a microscope
do that allows us to see cells?
3.If you made four cuts in your paper strip in the
activity Cut it Out!, you ended up with a piece of
paper about the width of a sugar cube. A sugar
cube measures about 9,000,000nm. Convert to
meters. Show your work below.
2.54 cm = 1 inch
1 meter = 100 cm
1,000,000,000 nm = 1m
4.a. Cindy is 60 inches tall. Use conversion factors to convert her height to
nanometers. You will have to use more than one conversion factor to get the
answer. Show all conversion factors used so you can earn full credit.
5.Express Cindy’s height in nanometers using correct scientific notation.
Game from NISE network and activity based on How Many Nanometers Tall Are You?
developed by the Sciencecenter.