What is Magnitude: Definition and 1000 Discussions

An order of magnitude is an approximation of the logarithm of a value relative to some contextually understood reference value, usually ten, interpreted as the base of the logarithm and the representative of values of magnitude one. Logarithmic distributions are common in nature and
considering the order of magnitude of values sampled from such a distribution can be more intuitive. When the reference value is ten, the order of magnitude can be understood as the number of digits in the base-10 representation of the value. Similarly, if the reference value is one of certain powers of two, the magnitude can be understood as the amount of computer memory needed to store the exact integer value.
Differences in order of magnitude can be measured on a base-10 logarithmic scale in “decades” (i.e., factors of ten). Examples of numbers of different magnitudes can be found at Orders of magnitude (numbers).

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  1. F

    Finding magnitude and direction of an electric field

    Homework Statement A spaceship encounters a single plane of charged particles, with the charge per unit area equal to σ. The electric field a short distance above the plane has magnitude _____ and is directed _____ to the plane. a) σ/2∈0, parallel b) σ/2∈0, perpendicular c) σ/∈0, parallel...
  2. D

    Calculating Electric Field Strength and Direction for a Negative Charge

    I think I have this correct, could someone please verify? I compared answers with a friend who got 2.0 x 106 N/C to the left, and I can't figure out how they got that answer, so I'm hoping mine is right... 1. Homework Statement A negative charge of 3.5 × 10–8 C experiences a force of 0.070 N...
  3. R

    Magnitude of acceleration of boxes -- is this method correct?

    Homework Statement Two boxes with masses m_1 = 4 kg and m_2 = 10 kg are attached by a massless cord passing over a frictionless pulley as shown in in my picture. The incline is frictionless and thetha = 30 degrees Homework Equations f = ma The Attempt at a Solution [/B] Tension 1 is...
  4. Nikhil N

    EMI(Electro Magnetic Interference) Magnitude and Frequency

    I want to analyze the efficiency of my data communication between slaves and master in the presence of interference. The protocol what I am using is modbus, with baud rate of 9600 , I am using 1000 ft cable. What I am struggling to do is, how to couple the noise into the cable in a way it is...
  5. Rodriesk

    Magnitudes and Directions In Uniform Circular Motion

    Homework Statement A biker is 40.0m to the east of a flag in a park, heading south at 10m/s. 30.0 seconds later, the biker is 40.0m north of the flag and heading east at 10.0m/s. For the biker in this 30.0s interval, what are: a) the magnitude and direction of the displacement? b) the magnitude...
  6. javii

    How to compute the magnitude of a initial velocity u

    Homework Statement A rock is thrown horizontally from a tower point A, and hits the ground 3.5 s later at point B. A line from A to B makes an angle of 50 degrees with the horizontal. Compute the magnitude of a initial velocity u of the rock. The Attempt at a Solution I started looking at the...
  7. Mason Smith

    Find the magnitude of the electric field at regions 2 and 3.

    Homework Statement The three parallel planes of charge shown in the figure have surface charge densities (-1/2)η, η, and (-1/2)η. Homework Equations I think that the electric field is equal to eta divided by epsilon naught. The Attempt at a Solution Well, I know that the electric field at...
  8. jlmccart03

    Find the magnitude of charge density for a power line

    Homework Statement The potential difference between the surface of a 2.2 cm -diameter power line and a point 1.9 m distant is 3.8 kV. What is the magnitude of the line charge density on the power line? Express your answer using two significant figures. Homework Equations V =...
  9. jlmccart03

    Magnitude of the work done by electric field.

    Homework Statement The membrane around a cell normally has layers of charge that create a potential difference between its outer and inner surfaces. This difference is about 72 mV . When a singly ionized potassium ion moves through a channel in the membrane passing from the outside to the...
  10. J

    Magnitude and angle of an electric field vector

    Homework Statement The electric potential at points in an xy plane is given by V = (1.5 V/m2)x2 -(2.9 V/m2)y2. What are (a) the magnitude of the electric field at the point (3.9 m, 2.9 m) and (b) the angle that the field there makes with the positive x direction. Homework EquationsThe Attempt...
  11. jlmccart03

    Magnitude of electric field near spherical shell

    Homework Statement A 10-nC point charge is located at the center of a thin spherical shell of radius 8.0 cm carrying -20 nC distributed uniformly over its surface. What is the magnitude of the electric field 2.0 cm from the point charge? Homework Equations E = kq1q2/r^2 The Attempt at a...
  12. jlmccart03

    Finding magnitude and direction of net force on a dipole.

    Homework Statement A dipole with charges ±q and separation 2a is located a distance x from a point charge +Q, oriented as shown in the figure. Part A: Find an expression for the magnitude of the net force on the dipole in the limit x≫a. Part B: What is the direction of the net force...
  13. jlmccart03

    Magnitude of electric flux through a sphere?

    ****EDIT****: I had improper significant figures. It was the correct number. 1. Homework Statement The electric field on the surface of a 6.0 cm -diameter sphere is perpendicular to the surface of the sphere and has magnitude 52 kN/C . What is the magnitude of the electric flux through the...
  14. B

    Statics: Dimensionless Unit Vector

    Homework Statement Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution So I began by subtracting. (205-160)=55 i (495+128)=623 j Both of these vectors are in the positive direction. So if I divide the vector by its magnitude I should get an answer of 1 in the positive direction for both i and...
  15. H

    How to determine the magnitude of the electric force

    Homework Statement A piece of tape is pulled from a spool and lowered toward a 170-mg scrap of paper. Only when the tape comes within 8.0 mm is the electric force magnitude great enough to overcome the gravitational force exerted by Earth on the scrap and lift it. Determine the magnitude and...
  16. N

    Order of magnitude calculation

    I am confused! . In some books it is written that if the multiplier is less than 3.162 , the order of the magnitude of the number is the power of the ten in scientific notation , while in some books it is written less than 5 . What is right? Help!
  17. R

    Calculate the magnitude of angular acceleration

    Homework Statement A record player rotates normally at a rate of 18 rev/m. It takes 70 seconds for it to slow down to a stop when you turn it off. Homework Equations Calculate the magnitude of its angular acceleration. The Attempt at a Solution answer key says the correct answer should be...
  18. K

    MHB Richter Scale Earthquake Magnitude Question?

    Hello. I am doing a review sheet for my Pre-Calculus final and one of the questions has me stumped. I'm going through our notes and we never did a problem like this in class. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Find the Richter scale magnitude of an earthquake that releases energy...
  19. Const@ntine

    "Vomit Comet" SpaceCraft (0)-V & H at Max Height

    Homework Statement Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 8th Edition, Ex. 47 M4 A spacecraft flies from 24.000 ft to 31.000 ft, in which it enters a parabolic trajectory with a velocity of 143 m/s at an angle of 45, above the horizontal. It exits with a velocity of 143 m/s at an angle of 45...
  20. TheSodesa

    Magnitude of a component of a triple star

    Homework Statement The apparent total magnitude of a triple star is ##m_0 = 0,0##. The apparent magnitudes of two of its components are ##m_1 = 1,0## and ##m_2 = 2,0##. What is the apparent magnitude of the third component? Answer: 0,9 Homework Equations Since according to Norman Pogson...
  21. sliperyfrog

    The maximum magnitude of the electric field of a sphere

    Homework Statement A non-conducting sphere of radius a carries a non-uniform charge density. The electrostatic field inside the sphere is a distance b from is center and is given by E = (b/a)4E0 (E0 being the maximum magnitude of the field.) a. Find an expression for E0 in terms of the...
  22. T

    Finding the magnitude of force P

    Homework Statement Homework Equations F = ma The Attempt at a Solution My value for P does not make any sense. Why is this so?
  23. T

    Magnitude of average force exerted by each particle on other

    Homework Statement A particle of mass 5.0kg travels initially with a velocity of 8.0m/sˆı and then interacts with a particle of mass 6.0kg which was initially at rest. After the interaction the 5.0kg mass travels at a speed of 4.0m along a direction which makes an angle of 53◦ with the x-axis...
  24. J

    Magnitude & Direction of Resultant Force & Equilibrant Force

    Homework Statement I need help as to how to find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force, and the equilibrant force. Any and all help is greatly appreciate as I'm stressing myself out over it and I'm not sure what to do. Thanks, Jamie. Homework Equations First question...
  25. J

    What is the power of unit step signal with magnitude A

    Homework Statement Find power of signal A u(t) A is constant like 5, 6 some value.[/B]Homework Equations Power is integration over -T/2 to +T/2 of [x(t)]2 dt The whole divide by T The Attempt at a Solution Power is integration over -T/2 to +T/2 of [A u(t)]2dt[/B] The whole divide by T So...
  26. A

    Find the magnitude of the acceleration of the two blocks.

    Homework Statement a)Find the magnitude of the acceleration of the two blocks in (Figure 1) . Assume the top block slides without friction on the horizontal surface. b)If the 12-N block in (Figure 1) is replaced with a 12-N force pulling downward, as in (Figure 2) , is the acceleration of the...
  27. A

    Determine target magnitude for observing proposal

    Homework Statement Hi I have some homework that requires me to write an observing profile for a number of targets. The goal is to obtain B and V band images that can be used to measure integrated photometry as well as surface brightness profiles with a spatial resolution of at least 4kpc. Have...
  28. B

    Finding magnitude of tension that causes object to slip

    Homework Statement A rope attached to a 19.0 kg wood sled pulls the sled up a 19.0° snow-covered hill. A 14.0 kg wood box rides on top of the sled. EDIT: the actual question to be answered, oops. What's the magnitude of the tension that will cause the box to slide? Mass of box (mb) = 14.0kg...
  29. D

    Finding the magnitude of acceleration in 2D motion

    Homework Statement A car moving due south at 20.0 m/s enters a highway cloverleaf. The car will exit the cloverleaf to merge with westbound traffic traveling at 29.0 m/s. The time between entering the cloverleaf and exiting to merge with westbound traffic is 20.7 s. What is the magnitude of...
  30. Adriano25

    What is the magnitude of acceleration?

    Homework Statement M1 = 7.0 kg M2 = 3.0 kg Coefficient of friction between two blocks: 0.4 Angle of incline: 35 degrees Ramp is friction less Homework Equations For Mass 1: ΣF1x = m1a1 -m1gsinθ + T + μkN = m1a1 (1) ΣF1y = 0 N = m1gcosθ (2) For Mass 2: ΣF2x = m2a2 -m2gsinθ + T - μkN = m2a2...
  31. B

    What is the magnitude of gravity of a pendulum that is moved

    << Mentor Note -- OP correctly re-posted schoolwork question in the HH forums; threads merged >> The full question is: The pendulum inside a grandfather clock has a half period of 1.0000s at a location where the magnitude of the local acceleration of gravity is 9.800 m/s^2. The clock carefully...
  32. Varun Narayanan

    Shouldn't force pairs equal in magnitude cancel each other?

    Homework Statement If every action has an equivalent and opposite reaction, how is that anything ever happens ?. Shouldn't force pairs equal in magnitude cancel each other? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I tried drawing a free body diagram, but it didn't help much. This is a...
  33. E

    What is the magnitude of the girl's change in momentum?

    Homework Statement A 50-kg ice skater moves across the ice at a constant speed of 2.0 m/s. She is caught by her79-kg partner, and then the pair continues to glide together. He is at rest when he catches her, and immediately afterward they both coast. Part A) What is their velocity just after...
  34. R

    Calculating the Magnitude of a Projected Force

    Homework Statement Determine the magnitude of the projection of force F = 700 N along the u axis Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution A(-2, 4, 4) r(AO) = 2i -4j - 4k r(AO mag)= 6 u(AO) = 1/3i - 2/3j - 2/3k F(AO) = 233.3333i - 466.6667j - 466.6667k I'm not sure where to go from here...
  35. E

    Magnitude of the change in momentum equation

    Homework Statement A single gas molecule of inertia m is trapped in a box and travels back and forth with constant speed v between opposite walls A and B a distance l apart. At each collision with a wall, the molecule reverses direction without changing speed. Write algebraic expressions for...
  36. B

    Find magnitude of two velocities, with one at an angle?

    Here is the problem: I am sure I can use pythagorean theorem of quadratic equation to solve but to be honest I'm blanking ridiculously. I have tried setting it on a coordinate grid and finding the resultant, but I have had no luck! I know I've done this problem before in high school but I'm...
  37. Battlemage!

    I Coordinate transformation of a vector of magnitude zero

    Is there some geometry in which a coordinate transformation of a vector of magnitude zero transforms to a vector that does not have a zero magnitude? Since the formula for the magnitude of a vector is √(x12+x22+...xn2), I can see no way for it to have magnitude zero unless every component is...
  38. Mr Davis 97

    Magnitude of a vector in polar coordinates

    Homework Statement What is the magnitude of the velocity vector if ##\vec{v} = 4 \hat{r} + 6 \hat{\theta}## Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I know how do do this in Cartesian coordinates (use the Pythagorean theorem), but not so sure how to do it in polar coordinates.
  39. Vanessa Avila

    How to solve for the magnitude and angle in this situation?

    Homework Statement Each one of the force vectors are surrounded with dimensions. But you're not given any angles. How do you solve for the resultant vector like that? Homework Equations Fr = F1 + F2 + F3 The Attempt at a Solution I tried taking the arctan(200/210) on the 435 N vector to...
  40. Hackerjack

    Vector problem missing magnitude of two vectors

    Homework Statement Force A has a magnitude of 200 lb and points 35deg N of W. Force B points 40deg E of N. Force C points 30deg W of S. The resultant of the three forces has a magnitude of 260 lb and points 85deg S of W. Find the magnitude of forces B and C. Homework Equations...
  41. C

    MHB Vector in 3d with given by magnitude and angle

    Dear everyone,Direction Write the vector in component form. v lies in the yz planeplane, has magnitude 2, and makes an angle of 30 degrees with the positive y axis. Work I know that the x component is zero. <0,v1,v2​> Thanks Cbarker1
  42. R

    Hi, how to find the magnitude of a rotating vector?

    i get stuck in how to find the magnitude of rotating vector . why say that |dA/dt|=A(dθ/dt) but who we can derive it or interpret this fact
  43. gracy

    Resultant of two vectors of equal magnitude

    Homework Statement Resultant of two vectors of equal magnitude A is a) √3 A at 60 b) √2 A at 90 c) 2A at 120 d) A at 180 Homework Equations When two vectors are of equal magnitudes then their resultant is ##A_R## = 2 A Cos θ/2 The Attempt at a Solution I think we need more information...
  44. M

    Finding the magnitude of a vector

    Homework Statement [/B] If possible, refer to attached image rather than what's written below (as the image is easier to understand). Triangle ABC is equilateral and AD = BE = CF. Let u, v and w be unit vectors in the directions of AB, BC and CA respectively. Let AB = mu and AD = nu. i) Find...
  45. R

    B Apparent Magnitude of Moon: Exploring its Impact at 1000x Closer Proximity

    Hello everyone! What would've been the apparent magnitude of the moon if it were 1000 times closer? Can we even talk about an apparent magnitude in the case of a large solid angle?
  46. R

    I Absolute magnitude in cosmology

    When referring to the absolute magnitude ,for example, in the B filter of a distant galaxy(considered point source) what are we talking about? Are we talking about the observed redshifted flux density(luminosity density) hypothetically seen from 10 pc away (1) ; or are we talking about the...
  47. E

    Expression for Magnitude of Electric Field by dipole integral

    Homework Statement Consider the electric dipole seen in the notes. (a) Using integration, derive an expression for the magnitude of the electric field produced by the dipole at any point along the x-axis. Electric Dipole: http://labman.phys.utk.edu/phys136/modules/m5/images/electr5.gif...
  48. F

    The magnitude of the electric field

    Homework Statement Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at the center of a square 42.5cm on a side if one corner is occupied by a −38.2μC charge and the other three are occupied by −27.0μC charges. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution E=k(q/r^2) the direction of the electric...
  49. J

    Magnitude and DIRECTION of electric field of a square.

    Homework Statement Calculate the magnitude of the electric field at the center of a square 42.5cm on a side if one corner is occupied by a −38.2μC charge and the other three are occupied by −26.9μC charges. (This part done) Choose the correct direction of the electric field at the center of...
  50. RoboNerd

    Question on finding maximum magnitude of acceleration

    Homework Statement An object is moving in the xy-plane according to the equations x(t) = 3sin(3t) and y(t) = 4cos(3t). What is the maximum magnitude of the particle's acceleration? 1) 5 m/s22) 15 m/s23) 30 m/s24) 36 m/s2 [the accepted answer]5) 45 m/s2 Homework Equations x(t) =...
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