RIO SALADO PHY 111 FINAL EXAM 2026
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS COMPLETE
PRACTICE REVIEW GRADED A+
⩥ What phenomena found in nature require a consistent quantum
mechanical theory of gravity to understand more deeply.
a) Black holes
b) The early Universe
c) Electrons moving close to the speed of light at the Stanford linear
accelerator
d) a) and b) above
e) all of the above.
Answer: d) a) and b) above
⩥ When you try to use classical physics to explain blackbody radiation,
what happens?
a. You get an infinite energy contribution from low frequency
electromagnetic energy.
b. You get an infinite energy contribution from high frequency
electromagnetic energy.
c. You don't get enough energy from low frequency electromagnetic
energy.
,d. You don't get enough energy from high frequency electromagnetic
energy.
e. None of the above..
Answer: You get an infinite energy contribution from high frequency
electromagnetic energy.
⩥ 4. As energy increases, __________.
a. amplitude decreases
b. frequency increases
c. wavelength decreases
d. wavelength increases
e. both b & c.
Answer: e. both b & c
⩥ 5. What two ideas (postulates) form the foundation for Einstein's
special theory of relativity?
a. constancy of the speed of light and the principle of relativity
b. constancy of velocity and the speed of light
c. unification of electric and magnetic fields
d. Time dilation and Lorentz Contraction
e. Matter curves spacetime and curved spactime moves matter.
Answer: a. constancy of the speed of light and the principle of relativity
,⩥ 6. What force plays a role in muon decay?
a. Weak Force
b. Strong Force
c. Normal Force
d. Electromagnetic Force
e. Gravitational Force.
Answer: a. weak force
⩥ 7. Consider the example discussed in class of a muon created at the
top of the atmosphere and just barely reaching the earth before it decays.
From the point of view of the muon at rest, how do we explain the fact
that the earth reaches the muon before it decays?
a) For the moving earth, time slows down, so the earth has more time to
travel a longer distance.
b) The earth-muon distance is contracted, so the earth has enough time
to reach the muon.
c) The muon lives longer, so the earth has enough time to reach the
muon.
d) a) and c) above
e) all of the above.
Answer: b) The earth-muon distance is contracted, so the earth has
enough time to reach the muon
, ⩥ 8. The conflict between Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity
can be stated as
a) A quantum theory of gravity has an infinite number of uncontrollable
infinities.
b) Space-time turning into quantum foam at the Plank length (10-33 cm)
is not smooth
c) Gravity will never be explained with quantum mechanics as Einstein
predicted
d) a) and b) above
e) all of the above.
Answer: d) a) and b) above
⩥ 9. In quantum chromodynamics a force is due to
a) a force mediating or messenger particle.
b) photons
c) gluons
d) a) and b) above
e) a) and c) above.
Answer: e) a) and c) above
⩥ 10. In the analogy between blackbody radiation and the warehouse
landlord, what do the people in the warehouse represent?
a. Energy
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS COMPLETE
PRACTICE REVIEW GRADED A+
⩥ What phenomena found in nature require a consistent quantum
mechanical theory of gravity to understand more deeply.
a) Black holes
b) The early Universe
c) Electrons moving close to the speed of light at the Stanford linear
accelerator
d) a) and b) above
e) all of the above.
Answer: d) a) and b) above
⩥ When you try to use classical physics to explain blackbody radiation,
what happens?
a. You get an infinite energy contribution from low frequency
electromagnetic energy.
b. You get an infinite energy contribution from high frequency
electromagnetic energy.
c. You don't get enough energy from low frequency electromagnetic
energy.
,d. You don't get enough energy from high frequency electromagnetic
energy.
e. None of the above..
Answer: You get an infinite energy contribution from high frequency
electromagnetic energy.
⩥ 4. As energy increases, __________.
a. amplitude decreases
b. frequency increases
c. wavelength decreases
d. wavelength increases
e. both b & c.
Answer: e. both b & c
⩥ 5. What two ideas (postulates) form the foundation for Einstein's
special theory of relativity?
a. constancy of the speed of light and the principle of relativity
b. constancy of velocity and the speed of light
c. unification of electric and magnetic fields
d. Time dilation and Lorentz Contraction
e. Matter curves spacetime and curved spactime moves matter.
Answer: a. constancy of the speed of light and the principle of relativity
,⩥ 6. What force plays a role in muon decay?
a. Weak Force
b. Strong Force
c. Normal Force
d. Electromagnetic Force
e. Gravitational Force.
Answer: a. weak force
⩥ 7. Consider the example discussed in class of a muon created at the
top of the atmosphere and just barely reaching the earth before it decays.
From the point of view of the muon at rest, how do we explain the fact
that the earth reaches the muon before it decays?
a) For the moving earth, time slows down, so the earth has more time to
travel a longer distance.
b) The earth-muon distance is contracted, so the earth has enough time
to reach the muon.
c) The muon lives longer, so the earth has enough time to reach the
muon.
d) a) and c) above
e) all of the above.
Answer: b) The earth-muon distance is contracted, so the earth has
enough time to reach the muon
, ⩥ 8. The conflict between Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity
can be stated as
a) A quantum theory of gravity has an infinite number of uncontrollable
infinities.
b) Space-time turning into quantum foam at the Plank length (10-33 cm)
is not smooth
c) Gravity will never be explained with quantum mechanics as Einstein
predicted
d) a) and b) above
e) all of the above.
Answer: d) a) and b) above
⩥ 9. In quantum chromodynamics a force is due to
a) a force mediating or messenger particle.
b) photons
c) gluons
d) a) and b) above
e) a) and c) above.
Answer: e) a) and c) above
⩥ 10. In the analogy between blackbody radiation and the warehouse
landlord, what do the people in the warehouse represent?
a. Energy
