Question 1

What is quantum tunnelling?

Accepted Answer

Quantum tunnelling is the name given to

Question 2

The thermal pressure in an object increases when the temperature increases,but the degeneracy pressure does not.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Which of the following statements best describes the exclusion principle?

Accepted Answer

A) If a particle has a precisely defined position,it is excluded from having a precisely defined momentum. 
B) The laws of quantum mechanics are excluded from applying to large objects made of many atoms. 
C) Two fermions cannot occupy the same quantum state at the same time. 
D) Two photons cannot be in the same place at the same time. 
E) The laws of quantum mechanics are excluded from our common sense. 
A) If a particle has a precisely defined position,it is excluded from having a precisely defined momentum. 
B) The laws of quantum mechanics are excluded from applying to large objects made of many atoms. 
C) Two fermions cannot occupy the same quantum state at the same time. 
D) Two photons cannot be in the same place at the same time. 
E) The laws of quantum mechanics are excluded from our common sense.

Question 4

What else always happens when an electron is produced from energy in a particle accelerator?

Accepted Answer

A) The electron quickly becomes part of an atom. 
B) The electron releases a tremendous amount of energy. 
C) An antielectron (positron)is also produced. 
D) The electron begins moving at extremely high speed. 
A) The electron quickly becomes part of an atom. 
B) The electron releases a tremendous amount of energy. 
C) An antielectron (positron)is also produced. 
D) The electron begins moving at extremely high speed.

Question 5

The basic building blocks of matter are protons,neutrons,and electrons.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following statements about degeneracy pressure is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) Explaining the origin of degeneracy pressure requires both the quantum mechanical exclusion principle and the uncertainty principle. 
B) Degeneracy pressure stops the gravitational collapse of white dwarfs. 
C) Degeneracy pressure stops the gravitational collapse of ordinary (main-sequence)stars like the Sun. 
D) Degeneracy pressure halts the collapse of neutron stars. 
E) Degeneracy pressure arises only with fermions (such as electrons,protons,and neutrons)and not with bosons (such as photons or helium nuclei). 
A) Explaining the origin of degeneracy pressure requires both the quantum mechanical exclusion principle and the uncertainty principle. 
B) Degeneracy pressure stops the gravitational collapse of white dwarfs. 
C) Degeneracy pressure stops the gravitational collapse of ordinary (main-sequence)stars like the Sun. 
D) Degeneracy pressure halts the collapse of neutron stars. 
E) Degeneracy pressure arises only with fermions (such as electrons,protons,and neutrons)and not with bosons (such as photons or helium nuclei).

Question 7

Suppose that,through the malicious act of an eight-dimensional alien being,the strong force was suddenly turned off throughout the universe.What would happen almost immediately to atoms?

Accepted Answer

A) Electrons would fall into the nuclei of atoms. 
B) Atoms would be immediately ionized. 
C) The nuclei of atoms would fall apart. 
D) Gravity would become the strongest force in nature. 
E) nothing 
A) Electrons would fall into the nuclei of atoms. 
B) Atoms would be immediately ionized. 
C) The nuclei of atoms would fall apart. 
D) Gravity would become the strongest force in nature. 
E) nothing

Question 8

Does the uncertainty principle affect our ability to follow the path of a baseball? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

A) No,because the uncertainties in the position and momentum of the baseball are so small in comparison to its size and total momentum that they are unnoticeable. 
B) Yes,because we cannot know both where the baseball is and which way it is going at the same time. 
C) No,because the exclusion principle says that large objects are excluded from the consequences of the uncertainty principle. 
D) No,because the uncertainty principle applies only to electrons. 
A) No,because the uncertainties in the position and momentum of the baseball are so small in comparison to its size and total momentum that they are unnoticeable. 
B) Yes,because we cannot know both where the baseball is and which way it is going at the same time. 
C) No,because the exclusion principle says that large objects are excluded from the consequences of the uncertainty principle. 
D) No,because the uncertainty principle applies only to electrons.

Question 9

The primary purpose of a particle accelerator is to

Accepted Answer

A) make small particles go very fast. 
B) make small particles achieve large accelerations. 
C) create particles and study their behavior. 
D) produce energy for commercial use. 
E) test new ideas about the law of gravity. 
A) make small particles go very fast. 
B) make small particles achieve large accelerations. 
C) create particles and study their behavior. 
D) produce energy for commercial use. 
E) test new ideas about the law of gravity.

Question 10

Which of the following is not considered a fundamental particle?

Accepted Answer

A) an electron 
B) an up quark 
C) a neutrino 
D) a proton 
A) an electron 
B) an up quark 
C) a neutrino 
D) a proton

Question 11

Which force is strongest within an atomic nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A) strong 
B) weak 
C) electromagnetic 
D) gravity 
E) They are all equal. 
A) strong 
B) weak 
C) electromagnetic 
D) gravity 
E) They are all equal.

Question 12

The four fundamental forces are

Accepted Answer

A) strong force,weak force,electric force,magnetic force. 
B) strong force,weak force,electromagnetic force,gravity. 
C) nuclear force,electromagnetic force,gravity,tidal force. 
D) nuclear force,gravity,tidal force,magnetic force. 
A) strong force,weak force,electric force,magnetic force. 
B) strong force,weak force,electromagnetic force,gravity. 
C) nuclear force,electromagnetic force,gravity,tidal force. 
D) nuclear force,gravity,tidal force,magnetic force.

Question 13

Which force is strongest beyond an atomic nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A) strong 
B) weak 
C) electromagnetic 
D) gravity 
E) They are all equal. 
A) strong 
B) weak 
C) electromagnetic 
D) gravity 
E) They are all equal.

Question 14

The number of neutrinos in the universe is greater than all the protons,neutrons,and electrons combined.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Since it was first predicted in the 1970s,scientists have observed the evaporation of about a dozen black holes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following statements about electrons is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) In an atom,an electron can have two possible values for its spin,usually called spin up and spin down. 
B) Electrons are one of the 6 known types of lepton. 
C) They are composed of quarks. 
D) Electrons can behave both as particles and as waves. 
A) In an atom,an electron can have two possible values for its spin,usually called spin up and spin down. 
B) Electrons are one of the 6 known types of lepton. 
C) They are composed of quarks. 
D) Electrons can behave both as particles and as waves.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about quantum tunneling is true?

Accepted Answer

A) It is used in modern electronics,and,in fact,our modern-day computers would not work without it. 
B) It plays a crucial role in nuclear fusion in the Sun. 
C) 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. 
D) 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. 
E) A,B,and C are true,but D is not 
A) It is used in modern electronics,and,in fact,our modern-day computers would not work without it. 
B) It plays a crucial role in nuclear fusion in the Sun. 
C) 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. 
D) 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. 
E) A,B,and C are true,but D is not

Question 18

Process of Science: Why do scientists believe that black holes can't last forever,and do they have any observational evidence to support this idea?

Accepted Answer

Scientists surmise that if a particle-an

Question 19

Quantum mechanics is

Accepted Answer

A) a branch of physics that applies on very small scales. 
B) the idea that mechanics can be understood only if we first understand quantums. 
C) the idea that quantitative methods are needed to understand physics. 
D) a branch of physics that deals with the curvature of spacetime. 
E) a branch of physics that deals with the properties of gases. 
A) a branch of physics that applies on very small scales. 
B) the idea that mechanics can be understood only if we first understand quantums. 
C) the idea that quantitative methods are needed to understand physics. 
D) a branch of physics that deals with the curvature of spacetime. 
E) a branch of physics that deals with the properties of gases.

Question 20

Which of the following will cause the degeneracy pressure within an object to increase?

Accepted Answer

A) raising its temperature 
B) lowering its temperature 
C) compressing it to higher density 
D) letting it expand to lower density 
E) shining a light on it,which adds radiative energy 
A) raising its temperature 
B) lowering its temperature 
C) compressing it to higher density 
D) letting it expand to lower density 
E) shining a light on it,which adds radiative energy

Exam 28: Building Blocks of the Universe

What is quantum tunnelling?

The thermal pressure in an object increases when the temperature increases,but the degeneracy pressure does not.

Which of the following statements best describes the exclusion principle?

What else always happens when an electron is produced from energy in a particle accelerator?

The basic building blocks of matter are protons,neutrons,and electrons.

Which of the following statements about degeneracy pressure is not true?

Suppose that,through the malicious act of an eight-dimensional alien being,the strong force was suddenly turned off throughout the universe.What would happen almost immediately to atoms?

Does the uncertainty principle affect our ability to follow the path of a baseball? Why or why not?

The primary purpose of a particle accelerator is to

Which of the following is not considered a fundamental particle?

Which force is strongest within an atomic nucleus?

The four fundamental forces are

Which force is strongest beyond an atomic nucleus?

The number of neutrinos in the universe is greater than all the protons,neutrons,and electrons combined.

Since it was first predicted in the 1970s,scientists have observed the evaporation of about a dozen black holes.

Which of the following statements about electrons is not true?

Which of the following statements about quantum tunneling is true?

Process of Science: Why do scientists believe that black holes can't last forever,and do they have any observational evidence to support this idea?

Quantum mechanics is

Which of the following will cause the degeneracy pressure within an object to increase?

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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