AP
Physics Assignment
Brockport High School NY USA
Chapter 1 Fermi Problems of Estimation
Mr Keefer
The
method of obtaining a quick approximation to a seemingly
difficult mathematical process by using a series of
"educated guesses" and rounded calculations is
attributed to the nuclear physicist Enrico Fermi.
Your logical imagination is important in solving the
following problems.
1. Given normal lifetime expectations, how many more seconds do
you have yet to live?
2. A
tuning fork is vibrated at the highest frequency audible to
humans. The
tuning fork can still be heard 20 seconds after it is struck.
How many vibrations have occurred during the 20 seconds?
3. What
is the mass in kilograms of the student body at Brockport High
School?
4.
If five students submerge themselves at the same time in a
cylinder of water 3 meters deep and 2 meters in diameter, how
many centimeters would the water rise?
5. Suppose
five of you could stand on each others' shoulders to form a human
tower. Now
imagine someone making a pile of $100 bills as tall as the human
tower. How
much money would it take?
6. Annually,
Planet Earth accretes approximately 3 x 107 kg of
interplanetary dust particles from the zodiacal cloud.
How many kilograms of interplanetary dust landed on the
roof of Brockport High School?
7. What
percent of the sun=s
radiation strikes the earth?
8. How
many seconds does it take red light to pass through a methane
molecule?
9. Estimate
the total number of hairs on your head.
10. The
solar wind passing by the earth blows away 3 kg of material each
second. Assuming
the Sun will last forever and the earth accrues no new material,
how many years will pass before the earth disappears?
11. How
fast does human hair grow?