As scientists struggle to find smaller and smaller components of matter, accurate measurement is of critical importance. The tiniest error in measurement on even an incredibly minute quark could result in profound misjudgments and expensive research errors! How can physicists accurately predict the size of objects far too small to be seen? Even the most sophisticated of microscopes cannot detect quarks!
Research Assignment
Using a ruler and a magnifying glass or microscope, determine how many dots, on average, are in one square centimeter of newspaper print (hint: don't count them). Be sure to write down all of your measurements and calculations in your journal, and to express your final result in scientific notation.
Journaling: What Did You Learn?
Compare your methods and results with those of another group. Who had a more effective procedure? How did your procedures affect your results? If you were to do this over, what would you do differently?