A Quiz on Quantum Mechanics

Answer: Max Planck

Max Planck(1858-1947) was a German mathematician whose solution to the ultraviolet catastrophe and theory of quantized energy produced the vast branch of quantum mechanics. He derived the mathematical equation,E=nhf, to fit the experimental data of this phenomenon.

This equation shows that energy(E)is equal to the number of photons(n) times Plank's constant(a mathematical value that Plank also derived, represented by the variable h), times the frequency of the emitted radiation(f).This achievement earned him a Nobel Prize in physics, which he was rewarded with in 1918.

He is known as the father of quantum mechanics.

Answer: the black-body radiation curve

The ultraviolet catastrophe was one of the biggest scientific issues of the twentieth century. The black-body radiation curve represents the distribution of frequencies emitted by black bodies in comparison to the intensity of their energies. According to the physics of the time, black bodies contained an infinite supply of energy. Therefore, the distribution of frequencies would infinitely increase with energy. However, this concept did not match the experimental data.In reality the radiation would increase in terms of energy right until it reached the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and would then abruptly plummet down.

The solution to this issue came from the concept of quantized energy.The concept of quantized energy does not require the need for an infinite amount of energy. Therefore, at a certain point in time, the amount of of energy being emitted will run out, due to a fixed amount of energy. That is why the energy plummets down, as opposed to increasing. There simply isn't enough energy for this to happen. As a result, the emitted energy will increase until it reaches the amount of energy present in the body, and will then decrease because there isn't any energy left to keep the increase going.

Answer: False

An interference pattern refers to the wave pattern that occurs when two or more waves overlap. There are two main types of interference patterns: constructive interference patterns and destructive interference patterns. Constructive interference patterns occur when the crests of two or more waves match up. Destructive interference patterns are the opposite.

They result when two or more waves match up oppositely. For example, two waves would form a destructive interference pattern if wave A's crests matched up with wave B's troughs. If two or more waves are completely out of sync, then a new wave of a different frequency will result. If two waves of the same amplitude and frequency form a destructive interference, cancellation occurs. Destructive interference patterns produce waves with lower amplitudes than constructive interference patterns.

Answer: magnetic quantum number

Scientists use four quantum numbers to describe electrons and other particles:

1.Principal quantum number: this number denotes the energy level of the orbital.
2.Angular momentum quantum number: this number denotes the orbital shape. Its value is always less than the value of the principal quantum number.
3.Magnetic quantum number: this number denotes orbital orientation. This quantum number ranges from the negative value of the angular momentum value to the positive.
4.Spin quantum number: this number denotes the angular momentum of a particle.

Answer: Albert Einstein

The term "photoelectric effect" refers to the phenomenon that occurs when light hits certain metals, resulting in the production of an electric current. The issue here was that the production of an electric current required a specific wavelength, as opposed to a specific intensity. According to classical physics, this issue would not arise because light was thought to be continuous. With a continuous source of light, and electric current would eventually be produced. However, this did not match the experimental data.

Albert Einstein(1879-1954) used the newly-born concept of quantized energy to solve this problem. He proposed that because energy is quantized, the photon would have to have a certain wavelength, and therefore a certain energy to be able to cause electron emission.

Answer: gluon

The Standard Model states that the universe is composed of seventeen different particles. These particles can be divided into two subgroups, fermions (matter particles) and bosons (force-carrying particles). Matter particles include muons, electrons, taus, all three flavours of neutrinos, and all six flavours of quarks. Force-carrying particles include photons, gluons, Z bosons, W bosons, and the newly discovered Higgs boson.

Answer: beta rays

Quantum mechanics deals with particle interactions, which often involves the emission of radiation. There are many different types of radiation. Beta radiation is a type of particle radiation. It is composed of electrons which carry a negative charge. Electromagnetic radiation refers to radiation emitted in waves, transmitted by photons.

Other types of electromagnetic radiation include x-rays, visible light, and gamma rays.

Answer: infrared

The field of quantum mechanics deals with the behavior and interaction of subatomic particles. This includes the concept of emission spectra. The term "emission spectra" refers to the radiation emitted by electrons when heated. This radiation comes in the form of visible light. When this light is bent using using a spectroscope, the light is broken down into a series of coloured bands. Each element has a different emission spectra.

The Paschen series is one of the three hydrogen spectral series. The other two are known as the Lyman series, which belongs to the UV region of the EM spectrum , and the Balmer series, which belongs to the visible region of the EM spectrum. The emission of Paschen lines occur when an electron jumps down to the third energy level after being excited, which results in the emission of the lines. Balmer lines occur when an electron jumps down to the second energy level, and Lynman lines occur when an electron jumps down to the first energy level.

Answer: spin quantum number

German physicist Friedrich Hund(1896-1997) devised his famous rule on quantum mechanical behavior in 1927. In 1943, he was awarded the Max Planck Medal, and in 1974, the Otto Hahn Prize for Chemistry and Physics. He also authored a book titled "The History of Quantum Mechanics".

Answer: Richard Feynman

Richard Feynman(1918-1988) was an American quantum physicist. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1965 along with scientists Julian Schwinger(1918-1994), and Sin'ichirô Tomonaga(1906-1979) for their work on quantum electrodynamics. Feynman has authored many books including "The Feynman Lectures on Physics", "QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter", and many more.

He has also had two movies made about him, "Infinity"(1996) and "Anti-Clock"(1979). He is regarded as one of the most brilliant scientists of the twentieth century.