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"Powers of Ten", the film made by Charles and Ray Eames in 1977, takes the viewer from the core of an atom to the edge of the universe, moving 10 times further every 10 seconds. The film is about scale and how we view the universe and our place in it. Powers of Ten is an extremely valuable tool for teaching and understanding our world through the concept of scale. Although math is the most obvious field of study, it can be applied to every subject matter. In the same way that a knowledge of geography allows us to comprehend locations and their relative distance, a knowledge of scale gives us the perspective to see all things in terms of relative size. It gives us a sense of place in the universe and expands our thinking in non-linear ways. When I first saw this film in 1977 it made a huge impression on me. it drives home the concepts of scientific notation in a very engaging way. With today's focus on micro- and nanotechnologies, the cencepts of scale, which this video reinforces, are very important.You can view the video right on the web site or purchase a dvd. There are a number of related educational resources that are also available.

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