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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How long were the steel columns of the World Trade Center designed to maintain their strength during an ordinary fire?

2. How many horsepower do car engines deliver?

3. When did President Reagan announced that he had reduced the total yield of the U.S. nuclear arsenal?

4. How long does the radioactivity of iodine-131 last?

5. In 2008, how much did solar cells cost per square yard?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 7, was the United States running out of fossil fuels?

2. What was the Davy Crockett weapon?

3. What are hydrogen bombs and their power?

4. How might a solar plane be useful for surveillance?

5. Where is most oil found underground, and how can it be extracted?

6. How does radioactivity go away?

7. Why does the author believe solar power is not practical for automobiles?

8. What anecdote does the author share regarding a conversation between one of his student's and a physicist?

9. What is radioactivity and radiation?

10. How long will the U.S. be able to use coal?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Physics is the science that seeks to better understand the behavior of the universe. Why does Muller believe a basic understanding of physics is important for future presidents?

Essay Topic 2

The 9/11 attacks were an example of low-tech terrorism. What is the difference between low-tech and high-tech terrorism? Why might terrorists prefer low-tech terrorism?

Essay Topic 3

In 1979, a nuclear reactor ran out of control and a third of its uranium fuel melted. What happened during the incident at Three Mile Island? How much radiation was released by the accident? How was the perception of the accident worse than its reality?

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