Which quantity in each of the following pairs is smaller?(c) 2.9 GA or 3.1 * 1015 mA

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the units involved: GA stands for gigaamperes and mA stands for milliamperes.

Convert gigaamperes to amperes: 1 GA = 10^9 A, so 2.9 GA = 2.9 * 10^9 A.

Convert milliamperes to amperes: 1 mA = 10^-3 A, so 3.1 * 10^15 mA = 3.1 * 10^15 * 10^-3 A.

Simplify the conversion for milliamperes: 3.1 * 10^15 * 10^-3 A = 3.1 * 10^12 A.

Compare the two values in amperes: 2.9 * 10^9 A and 3.1 * 10^12 A to determine which is smaller.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.

Video duration:

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is the process of converting a quantity expressed in one unit to another unit. In this question, we need to convert gigaamperes (GA) to milliamperes (mA) to compare the two quantities directly. Understanding the relationship between these units is crucial, as 1 GA equals 10^9 A and 1 A equals 1000 mA.

Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is a way of expressing numbers that are too large or too small in a compact form. It is written as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of ten. In this question, 3.1 * 10^15 mA is in scientific notation, which allows for easier comparison with other large numbers, such as 2.9 GA.

Magnitude Comparison

Magnitude comparison involves evaluating the size of two quantities to determine which is larger or smaller. After converting both quantities to the same unit, we can directly compare their numerical values. This concept is essential for answering the question accurately, as it requires a clear understanding of the relative sizes of the converted values.

Recommended video:

Guided course