fermiquestions（29页）.docVIP

Fermi Questions A Guide for Teachers, Students, and Event Supervisors Lloyd Abrams, Ph. D. DuPont Company, CRD/CCAS Experimental Station Wilmington, DE 19880 Lloyd.Abrams@USA.DuP Table of Contents Page Introduction to Fermi Questions ……………………………………………………………….. 3 Sample Illustration: “How many fish are there in the oceans?” ……………………………… 4 Fermi Question calculations can serve a variety of purposes …………………………….. 6 Considerations in making up a Fermi Questions event …………………………………….. 7 Considerations involved when solving Fermi Questions …………………………………... 9 Practice Examples ………………………………………………………………………………. 10 References ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 13 Fermi Question Problem Sets …………………………………………………………………. 14 Introduction to Fermi Questions Fermi Questions are problems whose solutions are either too difficult to measure or whose answers are imprecise. Related calculations, so-called “back of the envelope calculations”, were an essential tool for scientists in the pre-computer era for they provided the means to keep track of exponents when using a slide rule. Performing (or setting up) Fermi Question calculations requires mathematical skills, logic, critical thinking, life experiences, and the ability to break down complex problems into smaller discrete, soluble parts. At some point in the solution process, the solver is expected to estimate a value which is critical to obtaining an answer. The methodology, involved in making up a Fermi Question as well as calculating an answer, is applicable not only to the fields of science and engineering but to those of finance and commerce; in short, to provide a solution to a question in any field requiring a numerical estimate (Ref. 1-5). In order to teach that methodology, I have written this manual, not only for teachers, but for prospective contestants as well as for Event Supervisors. The Fermi Questions event in the Science Olympiad tests a team’s ability to estimate a solution to a probl