# Friday math movie - Powers of 10

By Murray Bourne, 29 Feb 2008

Here's a movie that will challenge your view of where you fit in the scheme of things.

Video is a great way to get a sense of scale when talking about powers of 10.

For example, they start with a view that is around 1 m wide, then zoom out to view a 10 m (= 101) wide square, then 100 m (= 102) and so on, ending up with a view of the universe.

They then go in the other direction, going smaller and smaller: 1/10 m (= 10−1), 0.01 m (= 10−2) and so on, passing through cells, viruses, and down to the atomic level.

The video was made by IBM in 1977.

### 3 Comments on “Friday math movie - Powers of 10”

1. robert says:

Very interesting and informative.

2. Judith says:

its so amazing and thank God and with these unselfish people who shared this movie. i have something very interesting to share with my students.

3. Ralph Trimnell says:

I first saw this film in the early 80s at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago where I was building exhibits.It hasn't lost it's impact and I am glad it is being shown to a larger audience

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