Re: [Phys-l] scientific notation

["Bill Nettles" <bnettles@uu.edu>]

> > > Steve Clark <sclarkphd@mindspring.com> 2/20/2009 7:04 pm >>>
[snip]They then bring  
that calculator with them to physics class where we periodically need  
to input scientific notation. The students see the ^ key and use it to  
enter numbers with powers of 10. Usually it works, but every now and  
then a kid will screw it up and end up a factor of 10 too big (or too  
small). I point out the EE key which most of them have never noticed  
before.  [snip][endquote]
 
What's really bad is when the use that method and then have to square (or cube or other exponent) of that quantity. For example h squared ends up as 0 because they squared the -34 exponent. Or c**2 (yea, FORTRAN) ends up as 3E64.  I now start each semester with a 4-minute lesson on entering scientific notation using a calculator, then count off if they mess it up on tests. They learn quickly to do it right.
 
Bill Nettles
Union University