Homework Help: Intro Physics question

1. Sep 11, 2011

lab-rat

2. Sep 11, 2011

Hootenanny

Staff Emeritus
You must have some idea as to where to start. We can't help you unless you at least attempt the problem first.

3. Sep 11, 2011

lab-rat

Well my professor hasn't given any examples yet on this and I can't find any in my textbook either. I was hoping someone could give me pointers on where to start.

4. Sep 11, 2011

lewando

You can start by looking on the interweb for things like "measuring the diameter of a molecule".

5. Sep 11, 2011

lab-rat

I haven't done any physics or math in over a year which is probably why I'm having trouble with pretty basic problems.

Here's my attempt:

(a) Area of slick = $\pi$r2
diameter of slick = 2x1010
volume of slick= area x thickness
volume of oil=volume of slick= 1L = 0.001m3

0.001m3=($\pi$r2
r=1261.57m
d=2523m

(b) $\rho$=M/V
V=$\pi$r3
=$\pi$(1x10-10)3
V=3.14x10-30m3
M=850kg/m3 x 3.14x10-30m3

M=2.67x10-27kg

does that make sense?

6. Sep 11, 2011

lewando

Looks okay, too many significant digits though.

V=$(4/3)\pi$r3

7. Sep 11, 2011

lab-rat

Thank you!

The diamete/thickness was a typo, I wrote it properly on my sheet :)

As for the significant digits, does 2.5x103m work?

8. Sep 11, 2011

lewando

If you are using a number like 2x10-10, I think one SD would suffice.