Mastering Scientific Notation: Word Problems and Division

A scientist measures the mass of a small particle as 3.2 x 10^-27 kg. If she has 4.0 x 10^3 particles, what is the total mass of all the particles in scientific notation?

• 1.28 x 10^-23 kg

• 3.0 x 10^-23 kg

• 1.6 x 10^-23 kg

• 2.4 x 10^-23 kg

A comet is traveling at a speed of 2.5 x 10^4 km/h. If it travels for 3.0 x 10^2 hours, how far does it travel in scientific notation?

• 6.0 x 10^6 km

• 7.5 x 10^6 km

• 5.0 x 10^7 km

• 8.0 x 10^5 km

The distance from Earth to a star is approximately 4.5 x 10^16 meters. If a spaceship travels at a speed of 1.5 x 10^8 meters per hour, how long will it take to reach the star in hours, expressed in scientific notation?

• 1.0 x 10^9

• 3.0 x 10^8

• 2.0 x 10^8

• 4.5 x 10^7

A bacteria culture grows at a rate of 1.2 x 10^5 bacteria per hour. If the culture is observed for 2.5 x 10^1 hours, how many bacteria are there in total?

• 2.4 x 10^6

• 1.5 x 10^7

• 3.5 x 10^5

• 3.0 x 10^6

A cell phone tower can transmit signals to an area of 3.0 x 10^4 square meters. If a new tower is built that can transmit to 1.5 x 10^2 times that area, what is the area covered by the new tower in scientific notation?

• 1.5 x 10^7 m²

• 2.0 x 10^6 m²

• 4.5 x 10^6 m²

• 3.0 x 10^5 m²

A factory produces 6.0 x 10^3 widgets per day. If the factory operates for 2.0 x 10^2 days, how many widgets does it produce in total in scientific notation?

• 3.0 x 10^5

• 2.4 x 10^6

• 1.0 x 10^7

• 1.2 x 10^6

The speed of light is approximately 3.0 x 10^8 meters per second. How far does light travel in 5.0 x 10^2 seconds in scientific notation?

• 4.0 x 10^12 meters

• 2.5 x 10^11 meters

• 1.0 x 10^10 meters

• 1.5 x 10^11 meters

A small electronic device uses 2.5 x 10^-3 kilowatts of power. If it operates for 1.2 x 10^3 hours, how much power does it consume in total in scientific notation?

• 1.5 x 10^-2

• 4.0 x 10^0

• 3.0 x 10^0

• 2.4 x 10^1

A researcher measures the volume of a tiny droplet of liquid as 1.0 x 10^-6 liters. If she has 2.0 x 10^3 droplets, what is the total volume in scientific notation?

• 2.0 x 10^-3 liters

• 1.0 x 10^3 liters

• 1.0 x 10^-3 liters

• 2.0 x 10^-6 liters

A satellite orbits Earth at an altitude of 4.0 x 10^7 meters. If it completes one orbit every 1.5 x 10^4 seconds, what is the average speed of the satellite in scientific notation?

• 1.200 x 10^5 m/s

• 2.500 x 10^4 m/s

• 1.941 x 10^4 m/s

• 3.000 x 10^3 m/s