Question

answer the following. (a) the diameter of mercury at its equator is approximately 4.88×10³ kilometers. write this number in standard notation. (b) an astronomers infrared telescope is able to detect radiation with a wavelength of 0.000381 meters. write this number in scientific notation. (a) kilometers (b) meters

Explanation:

Step1: Convert scientific to standard

For $4.88\times 10^{3}$, move decimal 3 places right.
$4.88\times 10^{3}=4880$

Step2: Convert standard to scientific

For $0.000381$, move decimal 4 places right to get $a = 3.81$ and exponent is - 4.
$0.000381 = 3.81\times 10^{-4}$

Answer:

(a) 4880
(b) $3.81\times 10^{-4}$