Question 1

An alternative statement of the uncertainly principle tells us that we cannot know precisely both

Accepted Answer

A) a particle's mass and energy. 
B) whether a particle is a wave or whether it is truly a particle. 
C) a particle's energy and the time during which it has this energy. 
D) a particle's momentum and its energy. 
A) a particle's mass and energy. 
B) whether a particle is a wave or whether it is truly a particle. 
C) a particle's energy and the time during which it has this energy. 
D) a particle's momentum and its energy.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about quantum tunneling is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) It is used in modern electronics and,in fact,our modern-day computers would not work without it. 
B) Although it has been observed to occur,it violates all other known laws of nature and explaining it therefore represents a major challenge to physicists. 
C) It plays a crucial role in nuclear fusion in the Sun. 
D) It allows electrons and other subatomic particles to pass through wall-like energy barriers even when it seems they do not have enough energy to get through the barriers. 
A) It is used in modern electronics and,in fact,our modern-day computers would not work without it. 
B) Although it has been observed to occur,it violates all other known laws of nature and explaining it therefore represents a major challenge to physicists. 
C) It plays a crucial role in nuclear fusion in the Sun. 
D) It allows electrons and other subatomic particles to pass through wall-like energy barriers even when it seems they do not have enough energy to get through the barriers.

Question 3

Fermions obey the exclusion principle,but bosons do not.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Briefly state the uncertainty principle.

Accepted Answer

The more we know about where a

Question 5

The two fundamental laws that lie at the heart of quantum mechanics are

Accepted Answer

A) the absoluteness of the speed of light and the equivalence principle. 
B) the law of conservation of energy and the electromagnetic force law. 
C) the uncertainty principle and the exclusion principle. 
D) the law of conservation of angular momentum and the law of conservation of energy. 
E) the law of quantum degeneracy and the law of inviolate absolutes. 
A) the absoluteness of the speed of light and the equivalence principle. 
B) the law of conservation of energy and the electromagnetic force law. 
C) the uncertainty principle and the exclusion principle. 
D) the law of conservation of angular momentum and the law of conservation of energy. 
E) the law of quantum degeneracy and the law of inviolate absolutes.

Question 6

All chemical and biological reactions involve the creation and breaking of chemical bonds,which are bonds between the electrons of one atom and the electrons of others.Given this fact,explain why the electromagnetic force governs all chemical and biological reactions.Also explain why the strong force,the weak force,and gravity play no role in these reactions.

Accepted Answer

Gravity is far too weak to play a role i

Question 7

All the following statements are true.Which one can be attributed to the exclusion principle?

Accepted Answer

A) If we know the location of an electron quite well,we will have little idea where it is going next. 
B) If an electron and antielectron meet,they will turn into energy through mutual annihilation. 
C) An electron has energy equal to its mass times the speed of light squared. 
D) Two electrons with the same spin cannot occupy the same energy level in an atom. 
A) If we know the location of an electron quite well,we will have little idea where it is going next. 
B) If an electron and antielectron meet,they will turn into energy through mutual annihilation. 
C) An electron has energy equal to its mass times the speed of light squared. 
D) Two electrons with the same spin cannot occupy the same energy level in an atom.

Question 8

Based on their spin,all particles fall into which of the following categories?

Accepted Answer

A) quarks and leptons 
B) fermions and bosons 
C) matter and antimatter 
D) color,flavor,and mass 
A) quarks and leptons 
B) fermions and bosons 
C) matter and antimatter 
D) color,flavor,and mass

Question 9

Which of the following best explains the hypothesized phenomenon of black hole evaporation?

Accepted Answer

A) Particles (or anti-particles)are occasionally ejected from within the event horizon,causing the black hole to lose mass. 
B) Virtual particles created near the black hole are constantly annihilating each other,causing a very high temperature even if the black hole has no accretion disk.This high temperature provides escape velocity for the virtual particles,causing the entire "cloud" of virtual particles to expand away into space. 
C) Particles (or anti-particles)are created by a quantum mechanical effect near,but outside,the event horizon of the black hole.The law of conservation of energy maintains that the black hole must lose energy to "pay" for the creation of this mass. 
D) Black hole evaporation is a virtual process,meaning that it has been theorized by astrophysicists,but doesn't really occur. 
A) Particles (or anti-particles)are occasionally ejected from within the event horizon,causing the black hole to lose mass. 
B) Virtual particles created near the black hole are constantly annihilating each other,causing a very high temperature even if the black hole has no accretion disk.This high temperature provides escape velocity for the virtual particles,causing the entire "cloud" of virtual particles to expand away into space. 
C) Particles (or anti-particles)are created by a quantum mechanical effect near,but outside,the event horizon of the black hole.The law of conservation of energy maintains that the black hole must lose energy to "pay" for the creation of this mass. 
D) Black hole evaporation is a virtual process,meaning that it has been theorized by astrophysicists,but doesn't really occur.

Question 10

How is quantum tunneling important to our existence here on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) It explains how neutron stars are able to stay stable rather than collapsing under their strong gravity. 
B) It explains why electrons in atoms gradually fill different energy levels,thus making chemistry possible. 
C) It plays a crucial role in nuclear fusion in the Sun,so that our Sun would not shine brightly without it. 
D) It is very important to understanding the law of conservation of energy. 
A) It explains how neutron stars are able to stay stable rather than collapsing under their strong gravity. 
B) It explains why electrons in atoms gradually fill different energy levels,thus making chemistry possible. 
C) It plays a crucial role in nuclear fusion in the Sun,so that our Sun would not shine brightly without it. 
D) It is very important to understanding the law of conservation of energy.

Question 11

What are the two fundamental laws that lie at the heart of quantum mechanics?

Accepted Answer

A) the uncertainty principle and the exclusion principle 
B) the absoluteness of the speed of light and the equivalence principle 
C) the law of conservation of energy and the electromagnetic force law 
D) the law of conservation of angular momentum and the law of conservation of energy 
A) the uncertainty principle and the exclusion principle 
B) the absoluteness of the speed of light and the equivalence principle 
C) the law of conservation of energy and the electromagnetic force law 
D) the law of conservation of angular momentum and the law of conservation of energy

Question 12

Process of Science: Why is String Theory not really a theory?

Accepted Answer

Most of the predictions of str

Question 13

Briefly explain why antimatter is difficult to store after it is produced in laboratories.

Accepted Answer

When matter and antimatter meet,the resu

Question 14

What is the primary topic of study in quantum mechanics?

Accepted Answer

A) the role played by atoms in astronomy 
B) subatomic particles and the forces with which they interact 
C) the mechanical movements of the heavens 
D) the role of relativity in astronomy 
A) the role played by atoms in astronomy 
B) subatomic particles and the forces with which they interact 
C) the mechanical movements of the heavens 
D) the role of relativity in astronomy

Question 15

Which of the following is not one of the basic properties by which we classify a subatomic particle?

Accepted Answer

A) mass 
B) charge (electrical) 
C) spin 
D) temperature 
A) mass 
B) charge (electrical) 
C) spin 
D) temperature

Question 16

What law of nature explains why electrons must arrange themselves in atoms with no more than two per energy level,thus making chemistry possible?

Accepted Answer

A) the exclusion principle 
B) the uncertainty principle 
C) the law of conservation of energy 
D) the law of conservation of angular momentum 
E) the electromagnetic force law 
A) the exclusion principle 
B) the uncertainty principle 
C) the law of conservation of energy 
D) the law of conservation of angular momentum 
E) the electromagnetic force law

Question 17

Which of the following best explains the phenomenon of black hole evaporation?

Accepted Answer

A) Due to high temperatures in the accretion disk around a black hole,material evaporates from the black hole like water evaporating from the ocean. 
B) Particles (or antiparticles)are occasionally ejected from within the event horizon,causing the black hole to lose mass. 
C) Particles (or antiparticles)are created by a quantum mechanical effect near,but outside,the event horizon of the black hole.The law of conservation of energy maintains that the black hole must lose energy to "pay" for the creation of this mass. 
D) Virtual particles created near the black hole are constantly annihilating each other,causing a very high temperature even if the black hole has no accretion disk.This high temperature provides escape velocity for the virtual particles,causing the entire "cloud" of virtual particles to expand away into space. 
E) Black hole evaporation is a virtual process,meaning that it has been theorized by astrophysicists but doesn't really occur. 
A) Due to high temperatures in the accretion disk around a black hole,material evaporates from the black hole like water evaporating from the ocean. 
B) Particles (or antiparticles)are occasionally ejected from within the event horizon,causing the black hole to lose mass. 
C) Particles (or antiparticles)are created by a quantum mechanical effect near,but outside,the event horizon of the black hole.The law of conservation of energy maintains that the black hole must lose energy to "pay" for the creation of this mass. 
D) Virtual particles created near the black hole are constantly annihilating each other,causing a very high temperature even if the black hole has no accretion disk.This high temperature provides escape velocity for the virtual particles,causing the entire "cloud" of virtual particles to expand away into space. 
E) Black hole evaporation is a virtual process,meaning that it has been theorized by astrophysicists but doesn't really occur.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about neutrinos is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) Neutrinos are neither attracted nor repelled by electrically charged particles. 
B) Neutrinos have a mass that is much smaller than the mass of an electron. 
C) Neutrinos do not respond to the strong nuclear force. 
D) There are three types of neutrinos,and these represent three of the six known types of lepton. 
E) Neutrinos do not respond to the force of gravity. 
A) Neutrinos are neither attracted nor repelled by electrically charged particles. 
B) Neutrinos have a mass that is much smaller than the mass of an electron. 
C) Neutrinos do not respond to the strong nuclear force. 
D) There are three types of neutrinos,and these represent three of the six known types of lepton. 
E) Neutrinos do not respond to the force of gravity.

Exam 28: Building Blocks of the Universe

An alternative statement of the uncertainly principle tells us that we cannot know precisely both

Which of the following statements about quantum tunneling is not true?

Fermions obey the exclusion principle,but bosons do not.

Briefly state the uncertainty principle.

The two fundamental laws that lie at the heart of quantum mechanics are

All the following statements are true.Which one can be attributed to the exclusion principle?

Based on their spin,all particles fall into which of the following categories?

Which of the following best explains the hypothesized phenomenon of black hole evaporation?

How is quantum tunneling important to our existence here on Earth?

What are the two fundamental laws that lie at the heart of quantum mechanics?

Process of Science: Why is String Theory not really a theory?

Briefly explain why antimatter is difficult to store after it is produced in laboratories.

What is the primary topic of study in quantum mechanics?

Which of the following is not one of the basic properties by which we classify a subatomic particle?

What law of nature explains why electrons must arrange themselves in atoms with no more than two per energy level,thus making chemistry possible?

Which of the following best explains the phenomenon of black hole evaporation?

Which of the following statements about neutrinos is not true?

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos

Telescopes: Portals of Discovery

Our Planetary System

Formation of the Solar System

Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Birth

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundations of Modern Cosmology

Galaxy Evolution

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

Space and Time

Spacetime and Gravity

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