To express the diameter of a carbon atom, 0.000000000154 meters, in scientific notation, follow these steps:
1. Identify the Decimal Point Location: The original number is 0.000000000154, where the decimal point is placed before the first digit, 1.
2. Determine the Power of 10: Count the number of places you move the decimal point to the right to place it immediately after the first significant figure.
- Move the decimal point 10 places to the right to position it after 1. Now you have 1.54. The number in scientific notation will now be in the form of 1.54 × 10^(-10).
3. Formulate the Scientific Notation: Combine the significant digits (1.54) with the power of 10.
- The diameter in scientific notation is written as [tex]\(1.54 \times 10^{-10}\)[/tex].
Therefore, the diameter of a carbon atom expressed in scientific notation is [tex]\(1.54 \times 10^{-10}\)[/tex] meters.
