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Solving Physics Problems with your TI 83CalculatorBy David DotyThis web site is designed to help students become familiar with the use of the TI 83 and TI 83+ calculators foruse in physics classes. While the use of this web page is not limited to physics students, the concepts addressed heretend to cause problems facing physics students. How to inputscientific notationwith your TI(shortcut)Addition andsubtractionMultiplicationDivisionSample physicsproblemsTI order ofoperationsHow to input scientific notation with your TI (shortcut)The use of the [EE] key.For many calculators, including the TI –83 and TI 83 Plus, the [EE] button is used to enter scientific notation. The [EE] button can be found in yellow above the comma key [,]. For entering scientific notation, the following keystrokes should be used: first type the number, then the 2nd key followed by the comma key, [2nd] [,] ≡ [EE], followed by the exponent. As an example, to enter 3 x 108 type [3] [EE] [8]. The display will read 3E8. The calculator can be set to display answers in scientific notation or normal display. To set the display, simply press the mode button and using the arrow keys select the desired display and press enter. To leave this menu, press [2nd] [MODE] to quit.Follow these examples for inputting basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.(top)InputtingusingparenthesesRationaleAddition:Add: 8.1 x 106 + 4.2 x 105Type: 8.1 [EE] 6 [+] 4.2 [EE] 5 Displayed answer: 8.52E6 Numerical answer: 8.52 x 106 = 8,520,000(top)SubtractionSubtract: 6.2 x 10-3 – 2.8 x 10-4Type: 6.2 [EE] -3 [–] 2.8 [EE] -4Numerical answer: 5.92E-3 Numerical answer: 5 x 10-3 = 0.00592(top)MultiplicationMultiply: (3 x 106) (2 x 103)Type: 3 [EE] 6 [X] 2 [EE] 3Displayed answer: 6E9 Numerical answer: 6 x 109 = 6,000,000,000(top)DivisionDivide:€ 6 ×1082 ×1010Type: 6 [EE] 8 [÷] 2 [EE] 10Displayed answer: 3E-2 Numerical answer: 3 x 10-2 = 0.03 (top)Sample Physics Problems1) What is the magnitude of the gravitational force between an electron and a proton separated by a distance of 1.0 x 10-10 meters?answer2) A positive charge of 6.0 x 10-6 C is 0.030 m from a second positive charge of 3.0 x 10-6 C. Calculate the electric force between the charges.answer3) In a vacuum, the wavelength of green light is 5 x 10-7 meter. What is its frequency?answer4) What is the energy of a photon with a frequency of 3.00 x 1013 cycles per second?answer(top)Answers to Sample Physics Problems1) Calculate gravitational force via Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation€ Fg=Gm1m2r2€ Fg=(6.67 ×10−11Nm2kg2)(9.11×10−31kg)(1.67 ×10−27kg)(1.0 ×10−10m)2€ Fg=1.0 ×10−47NType: 6.67 [EE] -11 [X] 9.11 [EE] -31 [X] 1.67 [EE] -27 [÷] 1 [EE] -10 [x2]Calculator Display: 6.67E-11 * 9.11E-31 * 1.67E-27 / 1E-102 Displayed answer: 1.0E-47 Numerical answer: 1.0 x 10-47 Back to Problems2) Calculate Coloumb Force via Coloumb's Law:€ Fe=kq1q2r2€ Fe=(8.99 ×109Nm2C2)(6.0 ×10−6C)(3.0 ×10−6C)(0.030m)2€ Fe=180NType in: 8.99 [EE] 9 [X] 6.0 [EE] -6 [X] 3.0 [EE] -6 [÷] .030 [x2]Calculator Display: 8.99E9 * 6.00E-6 * 3.00E-6 / .0302 Displayed answer: 179.8Numerical answer: 179.8Back to Problems(top)3) 1478106100.51000.3×=××==−msmcfλHzType in: 3 [EE] 8 [X] 5 [EE] -7Calculator display: 3E8/5E-7 Displayed answer: 6E14Numerical answer: 6.0 x 1014Back to Problems4) 2013341099.1)1000.3()1063.6(−−=×== xHzXJsXhfEJType in: 6.63EE-34 X 3EE13Calculator display: 6.63E34 * 3E13 Displayed answer: 1.99E-20Numerical answer: 1.99 x 10-20Back to Problems(top)Inputting using parenthesesFor those of you who do not want to use the EE button onthe calculator, yes parentheses can be used to enterequations.Example from the division section above:Divide: 108102106This can be entered: (6 [X] 10 [^] 8) [] (2 [X] 10 [^] 10)Answer: 3E-2 = 3 x 10-2TI orders of operationThe problem with typing in [X] 10 [^] (exponent) is that the TI 83 calculators do not distinguish scientific notation from multiplication and division. This becomes problematic when dividing numbers in scientific notation. As an example look at question 3 from the sample physics problems. In a vacuum, the wavelength of green light is 5 X 10-7 meter. What is its frequency?The solution is: € f =cλ=3.00 ×108m s5.0 ×10−7m= 6 ×1014HzHowever if a student mistakenly types in: 3 [X] 10 [^] 8 [/] 5 [X] 10 [^] -7 the TI gives the answer of 6. This is the orders of operations that the TI follows for this example:61060000000105103778=×=××−−topRationale: Although one of the goals of the new NYS standards is to increase conceptual understanding of physics, studentsstill need to be able to mathematically solve physics problems. Many students use the Texas Instrument calculators (TI 83 and TI 83+) as a tool for solving problems and we need to clarify the problems that students have in using this tool. The TI calculators do not use common sense when performing calculations, so the students need to correctly input the data to get the correct outcomes.topDavid DotyDavid Doty is currently teaching NYS Regents Physics,Environmental Science, and various science laboratories atSalamanca City Central Schools. He has a Bachelor of Artsin Mathematics from the State University of New York atBuffalo and is working on the completion of his Masters inPhysics Education at Buffalo State College. If you wish to contact me, please email me


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