Cornell Notes Fill-in Outline & Teacher Answer Key

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 Notes Outline

Topic: Name _________________________

The Scale of the Universe Date ______________ Period _____

Learning Goals: Describe how astronomers’ measure distances to the stars.

Explain how astronomers describe the scale of the universe.

Vocabulary:
parallax

universe

light year

scientific notation

Questions:
1. How do we measure distances to the
stars?

2. How far does light travel in 1 second?

(Write in in “long form” and scientific
notation)

3. Scientific Notation Practice Problems

1. Move decimal to the right of the 1st non-zero number
18.4 m
0.000000000172 g
2. Count the places the decimal had to be moved 4292000 s
8.3 x 10-4 m
3. If the decimal moved left – exponent is positive 105
1.496 x 10 8 m
4. If the decimal moved right – exponent is negative 10-5 23.1 x 10-3 kg

Summary: Explain why astronomers use parallax, light-year, and scientific notation
measurements. (Should be between 20-30 words, include vocabulary and main ideas and should
show you understand the learning goals)

 Cut along dotted lines and paste into your Science composition notebook.
 Notes Outline

Topic: Name _________________________

The Scale of the Universe Date _______________ Period _____

Learning Goals: Describe how astronomers’ measure distances to the stars.

Explain how astronomers describe the scale of the universe.

Vocabulary:
parallax

universe

light year

scientific notation

Questions:
1. How do we measure distances to the
stars?

2. How far does light travel in 1 second?

(Write in in “long form” and scientific
notation)

3. Scientific Notation Practice Problems

1. Move decimal to the right of the 1st non-zero number
18.4 m
0.000000000172 g
2. Count the places the decimal had to be moved 4292000 s
8.3 x 10-4 m
3. If the decimal moved left – exponent is positive 105
1.496 x 10 8 m
4. If the decimal moved right – exponent is negative 10-5 23.1 x 10-3 kg

Summary: Explain why astronomers use parallax, light-year, and scientific notation measurements. (Should be
between 20-30 words, include vocabulary and main ideas and should show you understand the learning goals)
 Notes Outline ANSWERS

Topic: Name _________________________

The Scale of the Universe Date _______________ Period _____

Learning Goals: Describe how astronomers’ measure distances to the stars.

Explain how astronomers describe the scale of the universe.

Vocabulary:
parallax the apparent change in position of an object when you
look at it from different places
universe all of space and everything in it

light year the distance that light travels in a year (distance not time)

scientific notation a mathematical method of writing a very large or very

small number in a shorter form using powers of 10
Questions:
4. How do we measure distances to the nearby - parallax
stars? large distances – light year (outside the solar system)

5. How far does light travel in 1 second? 9.46 trillion kilometers

9,460,000,000,000,000 km
(Write in in “long form” and scientific
notation)

6. Scientific Notation Practice Problems

1. Move decimal to the right of the 1st non-zero number 18.4 m 1.84 x 101 m
0.000000000172 g 1.72 x 10-10 g
2. Count the places the decimal had to be moved
4292000 s 4.292 x 106 s
3. If the decimal moved left – exponent is positive 105 8.3 x 10-4 m .00083 m
1.496 x 10 8 m 149600000 m
4. If the decimal moved right – exponent is negative 10-5
23.1 x 10-3 kg .0231 kg

Summary: Explain why astronomers use parallax, light-year, and scientific notation measurements. (Should be
between 20-30 words, include vocabulary and main ideas and should show you understand the learning goals)

Parallax can measure the distance to nearby stars. Light years can be used to measure large distances between stars
(outside of the solar system). Scientific notation is used to express numbers such as light years in a shorter form so they
are easier to use.

Resource: Pearson Interactive Science Florida Course 3 Textbook

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