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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is a correct statement, based on the theory of special relativity?
(a) Movement can only be measured relative to very massive objects, such as stars.
(b) Time is always the same to all observers, but space is not.
(c) Energy only exists relative to mass.
(d) Time and space are not experienced exactly the same by all observers

2. Which of the following is NOT an actual version of string theory?
(a) Type I theory.
(b) Fermionic type IV theory.
(c) Type IIA theory.
(d) Heterotic type O(32) theory.

3. What are the components of an atomic nucleus?
(a) Protons and electrons.
(b) Protons and neutrons.
(c) Photons and electrons.
(d) Electrons and neutrons.

4. General relativity is incompatible with _____.
(a) The photoelectric effect.
(b) State theory.
(c) The big bang theory.
(d) Quantum mechanics.

5. What are the vibrational patterns that a string can exhibit called?
(a) Harmonics.
(b) Notes.
(c) Resonances.
(d) Chords.

Short Answer Questions

1. In 1968 it was discovered that protons and neutrons are composed of which type of particle?

2. Which of the following theory was NOT developed in order to try to resolve the conflicts between quantum mechanics and general relativity?

3. In quantum mechanics, what is symmetry breaking?

4. Which of the following best describes a fermion?

5. Which of the following accurately describes the phenomenon of "quantum tunneling"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are super-partners?

2. Referring to the experiment described in question Short Essay #6, what would the three observers see according to the theory of special relativity?

3. What is the relationship between wavelength, frequency, and a wave's minimum energy?

4. What are the messenger particles of the strong and weak force, and what function do they perform?

5. Describe Max Planck's solution to the infinite-energy problem.

6. State Newton's law of gravity.

7. Adam is in his spaceship, at rest, when Ben's ship passes by, moving at nearly the speed of light. Adam observes that Ben's ship seems to be shorter than normal, and the clock on the outside of the ship is running very slowly. When he tells Ben about this, Ben claims that his ship was at rest, and that Adam passed him at nearly the speed of light. Ben also claims to have seen the same unusual problems with Adam's ship; it appeared shorter and its clock was running slowly. Adam and Ben's observations are both perfectly valid. Why?

8. Describe the relationship between the vibration of a string and the particle it represents, including the particle's mass and the tension, wavelength, and amplitude of the string.

9. Three observers carry out an experiment. From the same starting point, they observe a beam of light move directly away from them. One observer stays at rest at the starting point. One observer "chases" the beam at half the speed of light. The last observer chases the beam at exactly the speed of light. Describe what these observers would note about the beam of light according to Newtonian (pre-relativity) physics and thinking.

10. What are the two main theories on which modern physics is based? At what scales are they accurate or inaccurate? Give at least one example of a circumstance in which both theories would need to be employed.

(see the answer keys)

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