The Milky Way
Characters:
Theme: Scientific notation. Magnitude. Measurable attributes of physical and mathematical objects: investigation and relationship between them.
Competencies
Mathematical competence in science, technology and engineering
Personal, social and learning to learn competence
Competence in cultural awareness and expressions
Subjects and year by Educational System
Spain > Mathematics > 2nd ESO > Number sense
Spain > Mathematics > 2nd ESO > Socio-affective sense
Spain > Mathematics > 2nd ESO > Measurement sense
Enunciation
Maria Cunitz, the famous astronomer of the 17th century, has a geographical feature on planet Venus named Cunitz Crater in her honour .
Venus is part of the Solar System, which is a planetary system of the Milky Way galaxy. Use scientific notation to solve the following questions.
1- The speed of light is 300000 km per second. We can calculate that the light year -which is the distance light travels in one year- is, approximately, 9460000000000 km. Do the necessary calculations to obtain this data.
2- The diameter of the Milky Way is of 100000 light years approximately. Express this quantity in kilometres.
Observations and context
- She is studied in mathematics.
- Because of her great knowledge and her later contributions to science and culture, she was known as the Silesian Pallas (Pallas was the god of wisdom in Greek mythology). Apart from showing some talent for painting, music and poetry, she learned mathematics, medicine and history. She also mastered a great number of languages.
- Since ancient times there were women like Maria who were passionate about astronomy and mathematics, such as Enheduanna (c. 2285 -c.2250 BC), considered the first astronomer in history, Aglaonice of Thessaly (c. 500 -c.400 BC), Hypatia of Alexandria (c.370-c.416 AC), Fatima de Madrid (c.900-c.1100 AC) and Ana Comneno (1083-1153).
- Contemporaries of hers were renowned astronomers and mathematicians such as Sophia Brahe (1556-1643), Elisabeth Hevelius (1647-1693) and Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia (1646-1684), philosopher and mathematician; and many others dedicated to other sciences such as Margaret Cavendish (1623-1673), prolific writer on natural philosophy (now physics); Martine Bertereau (1590-1642), specialist in mining engineering and mineralogist; or Marie Meurdrac (1610-1680), alchemist and chemist.
Description
Solving a problem of operations with large natural numbers using scientific notation.