Texas Instruments TI-30XIIS Teachers Guide - Page 16

Problem, Procedure, Extension - - scientific calculator

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Star Voyage - Scientific Notation Name Date Problem 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 1013 miles. The distance from the Earth to the Sun is approximately 9.3 x 107 miles. Your ship can travel at the speed of light. You know that light can travel a distance of 6 x 1012 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 that you need to travel. Hint: Make sure your calculator is in scientific notation mode before you begin addition. 2. Next, find out how long it will take you to travel the distance. (distance traveled P 1 light year 3. Can you make the trip in the given time 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 1013 miles. How long will it take you to get there from Earth? Hint: The Earth is approximately 9.3 Q 107 miles from the Sun. © 1999 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED TI-30X ÙS: A Guide for Teachers 9

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Star Voyage —
Scientific Notation
Name
___________________________
Date
___________________________
© 1999 T
EXAS
I
NSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
TI-30X
Ù
S: A Guide for Teachers
9
Problem
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
13
miles. The distance from the Earth to the Sun is
approximately 9.3 x 10
7
miles. Your ship can travel at the speed of light. You
know that light can travel a distance of 6 x 10
12
miles in 1 light year. Will you
be able to get to Alpha Centauri on time?
Procedure
1.
Using the TI-30X
Ö
S, find the total distance that you need to travel.
_________________________________________________________________
Hint:
Make sure your calculator is in scientific notation mode before you begin addition.
2.
Next, find out how long it will take you to travel the distance. (distance
traveled
P
1 light year) ________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3.
Can you make the trip in the given time?
_____________________________
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
13
miles. How long
will it take you to get there from Earth?
Hint
: The Earth is approximately 9.3
Q
10
7
miles from the Sun.