Mass of a paper clip question

[zelda1850]

Homework Statement

the mass of a paper clip is approximately?

Homework Equations

it is mutiple choice but i don't know if there an equation for it

the mass of a paper clip is apporoximately?

1) 1 x 10 exponenet(6) kg
2) 1 x 10 exponenet(3) kg
3) 1 x 10 exponenent(-3) kg
4) 1 x 10 exponenent(-6) kg

The Attempt at a Solution

i have no idea how to do this problem ...

 

[DaveC426913]

Homework Statement

the mass of a paper clip is approximately?

Homework Equations

it is mutiple choice but i don't know if there an equation for it

the mass of a paper clip is apporoximately?

1) 1 x 10 exponenet(6) kg
2) 1 x 10 exponenet(3) kg
3) 1 x 10 exponenent(-3) kg
4) 1 x 10 exponenent(-6) kg

The Attempt at a Solution

i have no idea how to do this problem ...

There is no formula. Three of the options are ridiculous.

The question is designed to see if you understand
a] exponents,
b] how to ballpark, and
(possibly most important)
c] how to understand a problem, rather than just being a calculating machine.

 

[whome9]

Steel weighs about 490#/cu.ft so estimate/calculate the volume of a paper clip and go from there.

 

[pgardn]

Maybe you have played around with masses in a lab? Or you have passed around a 1 kg mass? A 100 gram mass (0.100 kg)? I think your teacher may have two or three things in mind.

1. Do you have some feel for what a kilogram is? Maybe like you have a feel for about how long a foot is or a meter. Or maybe you can estimate how much of a pound a pea weighs.

2. Do you understand scientific notation?

 

[lm93]

maybe try to think about it in terms of grams
it definitely has a negative exponent
i think this one is more of a common sense question...

 

[Redbelly98]

Homework Statement

the mass of a paper clip is approximately?

Homework Equations

it is mutiple choice but i don't know if there an equation for it

the mass of a paper clip is apporoximately?

1) 1 x 10 exponenet(6) kg
2) 1 x 10 exponenet(3) kg
3) 1 x 10 exponenent(-3) kg
4) 1 x 10 exponenent(-6) kg

The Attempt at a Solution

i have no idea how to do this problem ...

If you must, try converting from kg to pounds or ounces, if you are more familiar with those units.

As a reference, find a package of food, any type of food, which lists the mass on the package. Is a paper clip heavier or lighter than this? That should help eliminate 2 of the answers.

 

[RTW69]

Go to Staples or Office Max. Get a box of 100 paper clips. Weight it on a letter scale. Divide by 100.

 

[turbo]

Just for a ballpark estimate, is a paper clip lighter than a penny? What is the mass of a penny? If you know how to handle exponents, the answer should be evident quickly.

 

[Redbelly98]

Go to Staples or Office Max. Get a box of 100 paper clips. Weight it on a letter scale. Divide by 100.

The point of this homework problem is not to weigh a paper clip, it is to use some common sense.

 

[pgardn]

The problem can be common sense is not common when one has no idea what a kilogram is. We can be sure the poster is not a drug dealer, in the U.S. anyways. Which is a good thing.

 

[Redbelly98]

The point is to get an idea what a kilogram is. If one doesn't know that, at least use the conversion to pounds. Going out and weighing to get the mass of a paper clip defeats the purpose.

 

[yamugushi]

Homework Statement

the mass of a paper clip is approximately?

Homework Equations

it is mutiple choice but i don't know if there an equation for it

the mass of a paper clip is apporoximately?

1) 1 x 10 exponenet(6) kg
2) 1 x 10 exponenet(3) kg
3) 1 x 10 exponenent(-3) kg
4) 1 x 10 exponenent(-6) kg

The Attempt at a Solution

i have no idea how to do this problem ...

Ok, well first approximate, do you know what a kg is equal to? about 4 apples, now consider a small paper clip, it is very small compared to those apples, a tenth? a thousandth? a millionth? well you are in luck because it is multiple choice, so it is most likely 1EE-3

If you don't know scientific notation (which you should, it will come up again) the -3 means the total number of digits. So 1EE-3 = .003th of a kg or 1g, 1g ~ a paper clip

Good estimation is a valuable tool in science and IRL, the important thing is not the detail (3 or 4EE but the exponent, EE3, and EE6 is a big difference, you should be able to pick a reasonable answer)