what is the importance of scientific notation?

Question

what is the importance of scientific notation? in the field of physics

Answer 1

To write a very very very LARGE or SMALL decimal number

Answer 2

It's just an issue of convenience, really. For instance, in physics, Planck's constant is

0.0000000000000 000000000000000 0000066260693 Joule·seconds

But it's much easier to write that as

6.6260693 × 10^-34 Joule·seconds

There's never any danger of writing, or reading, the wrong number of zeroes when you use scientific notation to avoid them entirely. In fact, if you'll pardon me jumping momentarily into algebra-land, that's pretty much the reason we use exponents at all. It used to be that x^8 was written as xxxxxxxx. Imagine trying to read stuff like that, always worrying that you've miscounted the number of x's.

So exponents were invented, and scientific notation wasn't far behind. Hope that helps!

Answer 3

To abbreviate very high or very low numbers with exponents-in physics that might help us to better grasp a theory as we take that in with other given facts.

Answer 4

It just makes things easier and quicker to write.

For ex:

Instead of putting 543000000000000000 you can just put 5.43 * 10^17

Answer 5

Agree with ryan.
Besides that it reduces complication.Reduces the possibility of errors.

Answer 6

it makes life easier becuase you don't have to write alot of things

Answer 7

to exactly know where the decimal goes... its about precision...