Many fields of study have to deal with measurements that are much smaller or larger than normally encountered as we go through life. For instance quantum physicists deal with tiny things on the atomic or sub-atomic level. Meanwhile, astronomers often deal with the vast distances across the universe. Even economists have to work with large numbers like the total national debt, which is measured in trillions of dollars.
Sometimes it is difficult getting your head around the magnitude of these small and large numbers, because they vary over many orders of magnitude–tens, hundreds, thousands, millions, billions, etc.
Here is a cool 16mm film called Powers of Ten which deals with the relative sizes of things in the universe, and the effect of adding another zero. The film was made for IBM by the office of Charles and Ray Eames.
It is fascinating how the universe alternates between structure and emptiness at various orders of magnitude. Also astonishing is the similarity of the vast distances of space and the space within a single molecule or atom.
Here’s another youtube called Powers of Ten.
This film was inspired by a book by Dutch author Kees Boeke titled
Cosmic View: The Universe in 40 Jumps.
