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Fermi Problems Worksheet
Fermi Problems Worksheet
Fermi Problems Worksheet
NAME.:
HONORS PHYSICS
9-Sep-Ll
Enrico Fermi was one of the scientists who worked on developing the first atomic bomb and was known in the field for his ability to use approximations and assumptions to slice through a quagmire of calculations to get a quick and simple answer. One typical example of this was demonstrated during the detonation of that first bomb at Alamogordo, New Mexico, in July 1945. As the first tremors of the shock wave reached the observers, Enrico dropped a handful of torn bits of paper from over his heah. The wind rushing past as the shock *urr" pur*"d by blew the bits of paper about 2.5 yards behind him. He thought for a moment and thenboldly announced that the blast released the energy equivalent to 10,000 tons of TNT. Analysis of the readings from sensitive instruments located around the site took several weeks to analyze. The results confirmed Fermi's proclamation"
Though Fermi's grasp of math and physics is well beyond ours, the basic techniques he used are not. Enrico used an approximation technique similar to the one you have just used, plus a wealth of background knowledge. As you gain experience in working with physicr, yorr. background knowledge will grow, enabling you to solve seemingly difficult calculations on the 'back of an envelope'. For instance: The distance from New York City to San Francisco is about 3000 miles. The sun rises in San Francisco three hours later than it does in New York. GryC is on ,Eastern, time, we are on 'Central' time, Salt Lake City is on 'Mountain' time and San Francisco is on 'pacific' time). Knowing this, what is the circumference of the earth? The distance is 3000 mi and the time difference is 3 hrs. The time it takes for the earth to spin completely around is 24 hrs. Set up a proportion and solve it.
3000 mi 3 hrs
Xmi
24hrs
1.
106 m and is exactly covered up by your thumb held at arm's length, how far away is the moon? (Hint: you need a meter-stick or a tape-measure for this one)
2.
away, and is exactly covered up by your thumb held at arm,s length, what is its diameter? (Hint: you need a meter-stick or tape measure for this one, too.)
10i1
J.
If the sun is
1.49 x 1011 m away from the earth, how many meters does the earth travel in its orbit each day? (Hint: what is the circumference of a circle?)
In making stab-in-the-dark guesses, generally, the errors made in one approximation often cancel the errors made in another approximation. True Fermi problems have no definite answer, only ball-park answers, and anyone can make the basic assumptions.
For instance, Fermi once posed this problem to his students at the Univ. of Chicago:
Frank Drake did a similar problem (in 1960) by approximating how many other planets in our galaxy might harbor intelligent life, and that we could communicate with. We'I1 save that one for a class exercise.
' 1. How many square meters 1m2) of pizzawtll the EHS Cafeteria bake this school year?
2"
How many jelly beans will fit in a one-liter jar?
ciassroom?
How much heavier is the high school when all the students and staff are here?
If you stacked one-dollar bil1s on top of each other, how high would the stack have to be to hold the USA's National Debt of $14,684,035,400,000 (at 11:00 pm 3 SEP 11)?
[-
i.
The mass of how many Ford Falcons is equal to the mass of the water in the swirnming pool at the Brisbane Girls' Grammar School in Australia?
(Based on iesson plan by Summer '96 Math Forum Institute Peter Moulds)
2. 4.
fillin
a suitcase?
You might want to first assume that the diameter of the golf ball is 1". An extension to the probldn would be: How many ba1ls with a2" diameter would it take to frll the
suitcase?
5. How many gallons of gasoline are used by cars each year in the United States? 6. How high would the stack reach if you piled on trillion 7. Approximately
automobiles?
dollar
bi11s
in a single stack?
8. How many'hairs are on your head? 9. What is the weight of solid garbage thrown away by American families every year?
10.
if your life
earnings were doled out to you at a certain rate per hour for every hour
of
a feature-length
such a fi1m?
will a wheel
willbe