Question 1

Can two microscopic [or quantum] particles be entangled even when they are exerting no forces on each other?
A) Yes, they could be entangled but so far apart as to exert no significant forces on each other.
B) Yes, because they can still communicate with each other by means of electromagnetic radiation.
C) No, because entanglement occurs only by means of the electromagnetic force and the other fundamental forces.
D) No, because in order for a particle to be trapped in the field of another particle, it must feel the second particle's force field.
E) No, because the psi field is actually a force field.

Accepted Answer

Entanglement is a quantum phenomenon that occurs when two or more particles are linked in such a way that the state of one particle cannot be described independently of the other, even when they are separated by a large distance. This means that the particles can be entangled even when they are not exerting any forces on each other.

Question 2

As a particle's uncertainty in position gets smaller, its uncertainty in velocity
A) must decrease enough to satisfy the uncertainty principle.
B) must remain unchanged.
C) must increase enough to satisfy the uncertainty principle.

Accepted Answer

According to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, as the uncertainty in position decreases, the uncertainty in momentum (and thus velocity) must increase to satisfy the principle.

Question 3

Which quantum characteristic(s) would quantum computers exploit in order to achieve great computational power with only a few individual quantum elements or "qubits"?
A) Entanglement.
B) Wave packets.
C) Magnetic resonance.
D) Uncertainty.
E) Both uncertainty and entanglement.

Accepted Answer

E

Question 4

Which one has the largest range of possibilities [or quantum uncertainty range]?
A) helium atom
B) proton
C) water molecule
D) electron
E) dust grain

Accepted Answer

Electrons have the largest range of quantum uncertainty due to their small mass and wave-like properties, as described by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.

Question 5

The spectrum of the hydrogen atom differs from the spectrum of the helium atom due to
A) their different energy levels.
B) the different frequencies of their emitted photons.
C) Both of the above.
D) Neither of the above.

Accepted Answer

The hydrogen and helium atoms have different energy levels due to their different nuclear charges and electron configurations, leading to different frequencies of emitted photons.

Question 6

In the position- entanglement experiment, one of the two particles impacts at a particular point on one of the screens. Is the other particle affected by this observation, and if so, how?
A) Yes, the other particle transitions into a new quantum state a little later, after the force exerted by the first particle has had time to reach the second particle.
B) Yes, the other particle immediately makes a transition into a different quantum state, even though the two particles are some distance apart.
C) Yes, the other particle then ceases to feel the force exerted by the first particle.
D) No, the other particle is not affected because they are separate particles.
E) No, the other particle is not affected because observations [such as the impact of a particle] cannot in themselves alter other objects in the real physical world.

Accepted Answer

In quantum entanglement, the measurement of one particle's state instantaneously affects the state of the other particle, regardless of the distance separating them.

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle?
A) The unpredictability of radioactive decay.
B) The unpredictability of a coin toss.
C) Both of the above.
D) The unpredictability of the weather.
E) All of the above.

Accepted Answer

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle specifically relates to the limitations in measuring certain pairs of physical properties, like position and momentum, at the quantum level, which is exemplified by the unpredictability of radioactive decay.

Question 8

Referring to the figure above, which quantum jump produces the highest frequency?
A) nonsense-- quantum jumps don't produce radiation
B) from state 2 to state 1
C) from state 4 to state 3
D) from state 4 to state 1
E) Impossible to tell without further information

Accepted Answer

The highest frequency is produced by the largest energy difference between states, which is from state 4 to state 1.

Question 9

According to quantum theory, the electron in a particular quantum state of the hydrogen atom has
A) a definite position.
B) a definite velocity.
C) a definite energy.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Accepted Answer

In quantum theory, an electron in a hydrogen atom has a definite energy when in a particular quantum state, but its position and velocity are not definite due to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.

Question 10

Suppose that a certain atom had just 4 different energy levels. How many different frequencies could be emitted by this atom?
A) 10
B) 4
C) 6
D) 16
E) an infinite number.

Accepted Answer

The number of different frequencies emitted corresponds to the number of possible transitions between energy levels. With 4 energy levels, there are 6 possible transitions: 3 between adjacent levels, and 3 between non-adjacent levels.

Question 11

The difference between the "ground state" and an "excited state" for a hydrogen atom is
A) the atom can radiate when it is in an excited state, but not when it is in a ground state.
B) the excited state has more energy.
C) Both of the above.
D) a ground state's matter field is a standing wave but an excited state's matter field is not a standing wave.
E) All of the above.

Accepted Answer

The excited state of a hydrogen atom has more energy than the ground state, and the atom can radiate energy when transitioning from an excited state to a lower energy state.

Question 12

What happens in the double- slit experiment with electrons if we place an electron detector just behind one of the slits?
A) This provides no information concerning which slit each electron comes through, and has no effect on the pattern formed on the screen.
B) This tells us which slit each electron comes through, and has no effect on the pattern formed on the screen.
C) We can then predict the precise point at which the electron will strike the screen.
D) This tells us which slit each electron comes through, but it also changes the pattern formed on the screen.
E) This provides no information concerning which slit each electron comes through, but it does change the pattern formed on the screen.

Accepted Answer

When an electron detector is placed behind one of the slits, it allows us to determine which slit the electron passes through. However, this act of measurement collapses the wave function, resulting in the disappearance of the interference pattern on the screen, and instead, a pattern consistent with classical particles is observed.

Question 13

When an atom undergoes a "quantum jump" into a lower- energy state, the atom
A) absorbs an electron.
B) emits an electron.
C) emits a photon.
D) absorbs a photon.
E) None of the above.

Accepted Answer

When an atom undergoes a quantum jump to a lower-energy state, it emits a photon, releasing energy in the form of light.

Question 14

A certain type of atom has only four energy levels, as shown in the figure above. The "spectral lines" produced by this element are all visible, except for one ultra- violet line. The quantum jump that produces the UV line is
A) state 4 to 3.
B) state 1 to 4
C) state 4 to 1.
D) state 2 to 1.
E) Impossible to determine without further information.

Accepted Answer

The UV line corresponds to the largest energy transition, which is from the highest energy state (state 4) to the lowest energy state (state 1).

Question 15

One philosophical difference between Newtonian and modern physics is that, unlike modern physics, Newtonian physics
A) has no way of dealing with energy and other abstract concepts.
B) emphasizes the interaction between the observer and the thing observed.
C) makes predictions that contain an essential element of uncertainty.
D) is based on abstract concepts and is thus difficult or impossible to picture.
E) assumes that the universe is made of separate and independently existing parts.

Accepted Answer

Newtonian physics assumes that the universe is composed of separate, independently existing parts, whereas modern physics, especially quantum mechanics, emphasizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of all parts of the universe.

Question 16

Which of the following is a consequence of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle?
A) The overall layout of the universe.
B) The uncertainties involved in determining a person's genetic inheritance when DNA molecules are combined.
C) Both of the above.
D) The unpredictability of radioactive decay.
E) All of the above.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a consequence...

Question 17

Which of the following does quantum theory agree with?
A) Microscopic particles, rather than the macroscopic world, form the fundamental reality.
B) It is possible to analyze physical phenomena and physical systems by separating them into their component parts and studying those parts individually.
C) Future events are entirely predetermined, or predictable.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following does quantum theory...

Question 18

Referring to the figure above, the photons of lowest energy are produced by
A) the ground state.
B) quantum jumps from state 4 to 3.
C) quantum jumps from state to state 1.
D) state 4.
E) Impossible to determine without further information.

Accepted Answer

The energy of a photon is determined by the difference in energy levels between the initial and final states. A quantum jump from state 4 to 3 involves a smaller energy difference compared to jumps involving the ground state or other states, thus producing photons of the lowest energy.

Question 19

According to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, electrons are more unpredictable than protons. This is because electrons
A) have a smaller volume
B) have a smaller mass.
C) interact more strongly with other particles.
D) interact more weakly (i.e., less strongly) with other particles.
E) are negatively charged rather than positively charged.

Accepted Answer

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle states that the uncertainty in position and momentum is inversely proportional. Since electrons have a smaller mass than protons, their momentum is more uncertain, making their position more unpredictable.

Question 20

In quantum theory, what happens if an electron's wave packet is squeezed into a smaller region of space?
A) You increase the electron's uncertainty in position while decreasing its uncertainty in velocity.
B) You decrease the electrons uncertainty in velocity while leaving its uncertainty in position unaffected.
C) You decrease the electron's uncertainty in position while increasing its uncertainty in velocity.
D) You decrease the electrons uncertainty in position while leaving its uncertainty in velocity unaffected.
E) You decrease the electron's uncertainty in velocity and also decrease its uncertainty in position.

Accepted Answer

According to the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, decreasing the uncertainty in an electron's position increases the uncertainty in its velocity (momentum).

Quiz 13: The Quantum Universe

Can two microscopic [or quantum] particles be entangled even when they are exerting no forces on each other?

As a particle's uncertainty in position gets smaller, its uncertainty in velocity

Which quantum characteristic(s) would quantum computers exploit in order to achieve great computational power with only a few individual quantum elements or "qubits"?

Which one has the largest range of possibilities [or quantum uncertainty range]?

The spectrum of the hydrogen atom differs from the spectrum of the helium atom due to

In the position- entanglement experiment, one of the two particles impacts at a particular point on one of the screens. Is the other particle affected by this observation, and if so, how?

Which of the following is an example of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle?

Referring to the figure above, which quantum jump produces the highest frequency?

According to quantum theory, the electron in a particular quantum state of the hydrogen atom has

Suppose that a certain atom had just 4 different energy levels. How many different frequencies could be emitted by this atom?

The difference between the "ground state" and an "excited state" for a hydrogen atom is

What happens in the double- slit experiment with electrons if we place an electron detector just behind one of the slits?

When an atom undergoes a "quantum jump" into a lower- energy state, the atom

A certain type of atom has only four energy levels, as shown in the figure above. The "spectral lines" produced by this element are all visible, except for one ultra- violet line. The quantum jump that produces the UV line is

One philosophical difference between Newtonian and modern physics is that, unlike modern physics, Newtonian physics

Which of the following is a consequence of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle?

Which of the following does quantum theory agree with?

Referring to the figure above, the photons of lowest energy are produced by

According to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, electrons are more unpredictable than protons. This is because electrons

In quantum theory, what happens if an electron's wave packet is squeezed into a smaller region of space?