Scientific Notation Converter
Convert between standard decimal notation and scientific notation. Ideal for working with very large or very small numbers in science, engineering, and mathematics.
Examples:
- 123,456 in scientific notation is 1.23456 × 105
- 0.000123 in scientific notation is 1.23 × 10-4
- 6.022 × 1023 is Avogadro's number (6.022e+23)
- 1.602 × 10-19 is the elementary charge in coulombs
- 9.81 × 100 is just 9.81 (Earth's gravitational acceleration)
About Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is a way of writing numbers that are too large or too small in a more concise form. A number in scientific notation is expressed as a coefficient multiplied by 10 raised to a power (a × 10n).
Why Use Scientific Notation?
- Clarity: Makes very large and very small numbers more readable
- Precision: Allows focus on significant digits
- Calculations: Simplifies multiplication and division with extreme values
- Standardization: Provides a universal format for expressing numbers in science
Format Rules
In proper scientific notation:
- The coefficient (a) is a number greater than or equal to 1 and less than 10
- The exponent (n) is an integer representing the power of 10
- Positive exponents indicate numbers larger than 10
- Negative exponents indicate numbers smaller than 1
Applications of Scientific Notation
- Physics: Atomic dimensions, astronomical distances, fundamental constants
- Chemistry: Avogadro's number, atomic masses, concentration values
- Biology: Cell counts, microscopic measurements, genetic sequences
- Engineering: Material properties, electronic specifications
- Computing: Memory sizes, data transfer rates
- Economics: National budgets, global statistics
Common Notations in Science
- Speed of light: 3.00 × 108 m/s
- Earth's mass: 5.97 × 1024 kg
- Planck's constant: 6.626 × 10-34 J·s
- Diameter of a hydrogen atom: 1.06 × 10-10 m
- Width of a human hair: ~1.00 × 10-4 m
- Human population of Earth: ~7.90 × 109
Our Scientific Notation Converter makes it easy to convert between standard and scientific notation for all your scientific, engineering, and mathematical needs.