This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 5, The Need for a New Theory, General Relativity vs. Quantum Mechanics.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When the distance between two objects is doubled, what happens to the strength of the gravitational pull between them?
(a) It diminishes to one-fourth its original value.
(b) It is unchanged.
(c) It quadruples.
(d) It diminishes to one-half its original value.

2. Black holes are dense and massive cosmological bodies. What unique distinction do they have?
(a) Neutrinos always flow towards them.
(b) They are the only types of stars that can produce uranium and heavier elements.
(c) Light cannot escape their gravitational well.
(d) They are the only objects that emit gamma rays.

3. According to general relativity, all objects that have mass have what effect on space-time?
(a) They fold space-time as they move past one another.
(b) They warp space-time around them.
(c) They stretch space-time for other very distant objects.
(d) They tear space-time when they travel at near-light speeds.

4. In 1968 it was discovered that protons and neutrons are composed of which type of particle?
(a) Baryons.
(b) Quarks.
(c) Muons.
(d) Neutrinos.

5. What characteristic did Werner Heisenberg discovered that some features of the universe at very small scales, and some properties of particle?
(a) They always increase or decrease by certain increments.
(b) They can change spontaneously, with no external influence.
(c) They cannot be known with complete precision.
(d) They are dependant on the velocity of the object being studied.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, if two objects have a gravitational pull on one another, and one changes its mass or distance from the other, how quickly does the effect of this change travel to the other object?

2. What property did the double-slit experiment demonstrate that light has?

3. Which of the following is closest to the Planck length?

4. What characteristic of the string determines the properties of the particle it represents?

5. The smallest possible unit of energy is referred to as _____.

(see the answer key)

This section contains 401 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)

View a FREE sample