Verified Solution Physics Units and Measurements

The age of the universe is estimated to be approximately 13.8 billion years. Express this age in seconds, and determine its order of magnitude. (Assume 1 year ≈ 3.156 x 10⁷ seconds).

4 views 1 helpful Updated Jul 13, 2026
Solution ✔ Verified
  • A4.35 x 10¹7 seconds, Order 10¹7
  • B4.35 x 10¹8 seconds, Order 10¹8
  • C4.35 x 10¹6 seconds, Order 10¹6
  • D4.35 x 10¹7 seconds, Order 10¹8
Explanation

Age = 13.8 billion years = 13.8 x 10⁹ years. Convert to seconds: 13.8 x 10⁹ * 3.156 x 10⁷ seconds = 43.5428 x 10¹6 seconds = 4.35 x 10¹7 seconds. Order of magnitude: log10(4.35 x 10¹7) ≈ 17.638. The nearest integer is 18. So the order of magnitude is 10¹8. (Note: Option D combines the correct calculated value with the correct order of magnitude.)

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