Reading Skill (GE)

Answer these questions:

Awarded the Nobel prize for physics in 1918, German physics Max Planck is best remembered as the originator of the quantum theory. His work helped user in a new era in theoretical physics and revolutionized the scientific community’s understanding of atomic and sub-atomic processes.

Planck intriduced an idea that led to the quantum theory, which became the foundation of twentieth century physics. In December 1900, Plnck worked out an equation that described the distribution of radiation accurately over the range of low to high frequencies. He had developed a theory which depended on a model of matter that seemed very strange at the time. The model required the emission of electromagnetic radiation in small chunks or particles. These particles were later called quantums. The energy associated with each quatum is measured by multiplying the frequency of the radiation, v, by a universal constant, h. Thus, energy, or E, equals hv. The constant, h, is known as Planck’s constant. It is now recognized as one of the fundamental constant of the world.

Planck announced his finding in 1900, but it was years before teh full consequences of his revolutionary quantum theory were recognized. Throughout his life, Planck made significant contributions to optics, thermodynamics and stastistical mechanics, physical chemistry, and other fields. In 1930, He was elected president of the Kaiser Wilhelm society, which was renamed the Max II. Though deeply opposed to the fascist regime of Adolf Hitler, Planck remained in Germany throughout teh war. He died in Gottingen on October 4, 1947.

  1. In which of the following fields did Max Planck NOT make a significant contribution?
    a) Optics
    b) Thermodynamics
    c) Stastistical mechanics
    d) Biology
  2. The word “revolutionary” as used in line 13, means…
    a) Dangerous
    b) Extremist
    c) Momentous
    d) Militarist
  3. It can inferred from the passage that Planck’s work led to the development of which of the following?
    a) The rocket
    b) The atomic bomb
    c) The internal combustion engine
    d) The computer
  4. The particles of electromagnetic radiation given off by matter are known as…
    a) Quantums
    b) Atoms
    c) Electrons
    d) Valences
  5. The word “universal”, as used in line 10 most nearly means…
    a) Planetary
    b) Cosmic
    c) Worldwide
    d) Always present
  6. The implication in this passage is that…
    a) Only a German physics could discover such a theory
    b) Quantum theory, which led to the development of twentieth century physics, is basically a mathematical formula
    c) Planck’s constant was not discernible before 1900
    d) Radiation was hard to study
  7. “An idea” as used in line 4, refers to…
    a) A model of matter
    b) Emission of electromagnetic radiation
    c) Quantums
    d) The equation that described the distribution of radiation accurately over the range of low to high frequencies
  8. The word “emission” as used in line 8 means…
    a) Giving off
    b) Holding on to
    c) Throwing away
    d) Taking back
  9. Planck’s constant, expressed in a mathematical formula, is…
    a) e = v/h
    b) E = h/v
    c) e = h-v
    d) E = hv
  10. What is known as Planck’s constant?
    a) v
    b) h
    c) e
    d) E