Question 2 of 21

What was Max Planck studying when he stumbled across the principles of quantum mechanics?

... In the problem known as the ultraviolet catastrophe, Planck was perplexed why a heated box didn't produce an infinite amount of ultraviolet radiation.

Question 3 of 21

Quantum mechanics says photons and electrons are ________.

... They can be either particles or waves, depending on how they are being measured or observed.

Question 4 of 21

Who disliked quantum theory and said God does not play dice with the universe?

... Albert Einstein, though most scientists accept it today.

Question 5 of 21

What does the Uncertainty Principle say?

... The theory that measuring one aspect of a particle blurs other aspects was formulated by Werner Heisenberg in the 1920s and is still the topic of much debate.

Question 6 of 21

How many dimensions does M-theory encompass?

... M-theory unites the five previously competing versions of string theory and posits 11 dimensions.

Question 7 of 21

Fact or Fiction? Spintronics exploits the spin state of electrons to carry and store information.

... Perfection of this technology would create faster and more powerful electronic devices.

Question 8 of 21

Could spin technology lead to more energy-efficient devices?

... Yes, because spin electronics do not need a continuous current to retain data.

Question 9 of 21

The equivalent of bits are called this in quantum computing

... The qubits exist in two states at the same time and the information is entangled, meaning quantum computers can carry out tasks normal computers cannot.

Question 10 of 21

This technology protects information by using the principle that you cannot observe a particle without changing it.

... Called quantum key distribution, this quantum cryptography could protect all sorts of electronic information.

Question 11 of 21

How long is the tunnel in the Large Hadron Collider?

... The LHC is 300 feet (91 meters) underground, and the tunnel is 10 feet (3 meters) in diameter and 17 miles (27 kilometers) long.

Question 12 of 21

The scientific name for the 'God particle' is ______.

... Named after University of Edinburgh physicist Peter Higgs

Question 13 of 21

What theory accounts for dark matter?

... Supersymmetry says every particle had a larger counterpart when the universe was formed. Dark matter, which makes up the bulk of the universe, are the particles that have survived.

Question 14 of 21

Experiments with ultra-cold atom gases may someday lead to a better understanding of this bane of travelers.

... Turbulence has heretofore been impossible to create in the laboratory.

Question 15 of 21

This links two quantum particles in a way that makes them two parts of the same entity.

... Erwin Schrodinger called entanglement the characteristic trait of quantum mechanics.

Question 16 of 21

Fact or Fiction? Some people believe prayer and healing ceremonies work through the power of quantum physics.

... The act of focusing on the illness brings probability waves into being, proponents say.

Question 17 of 21

This was one of the first inventions to come out of the study of quantum mechanics

... Transistors were developed once quantum theory allowed scientists to understand why some materials were good conductors of electricity.

Question 18 of 21

Physicians can now use these particles to detect cancer cells

... Coated with a special substance, glowing quantum dots latch on to cancer cells.

Question 19 of 21

Does the Large Hadron Collider belong to the United States?

... It was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and is on the border between Switzerland and France.

Question 20 of 21

Is Schrodinger's cat alive or dead at the end of the hypothetical experiment?

... It really depends on who you ask. There are as many interpretations of this as there are physicists.

Question 21 of 21

As a teenager, future Grammy-winning songwriter and pianist Bruce Hornsby wrote what song about an influential physicist?

... Curse You, Niels Bohr was an early high point for the budding songwriter in Williamsburg, Va.

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