Question

1. Theory of nature needed to truly understand the Big Bang:

A. Special relativity

B. General relativity     

C. Quantum mechanics

D. Quantum gravity

2. LIGO's first discovery:

A. Black hole - black hole merger

B. Black hole - neutron star merger     

C. Neutron star - neutron star merger

D. Nothing yet

3. An object is stationary in a black hole's ergoregion. How fast does it appear to be moving to an outside observer?

A. Not at all

B. Some, but less than the speed of light     

C. Equal to the speed of light

D. Greater than the speed of light

Answer 1

Answer for Question 1

Let me begin this answer by quoting the scientists at Max Planck Institute of Gravitational Physics "Present-day physics cannot describe what happened in the Big Bang. Quantum theory and the theory of relativity fail in this almost infinitely dense and hot primal state of the universe. Only an all-encompassing theory of quantum gravity which unifies these two fundamental pillars of physics could provide an insight into how the universe began"

Let me explain how this works. Einstein's theory of Relativity describes Gravity effectively while Quantum Mechanics explains the elementary particles and thus the world itself.These theories work well within their own limits. However when it comes to small scales like Planck Length these theories break down thus making them invalid. Thus space and time no longer has any meaning in black holes or in Big Bang itself.

This brings us to the part where we need to find a solution to understand the Big Bang theory. Many researches have proved that Quantum Gravity is the way to go. The concept of Quantum Gravity is still a child in making. With appropriate unification factors to bring together the Theories of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics , we could very well understand the Big Bang Theory

So the right option is [D] Quantum Gravity

Answer for Question 2

In 2015 the Scientists working at LIGO ,for the very first time discovered the presence of Gravitational waves directly. These waves were produced when Two Black Holes merged into one releasing a massive amount of energy.

So the right option is [A] Black Hole- Black Hole Merger

Answer to Question 3

The Ergoregion or the Ergosphere is the region located outside a rotating black hole just outside the Event This is the part of the Black Hole from where energy can be extracted, theoretically speaking. As a black hole rotates it twists space-time along with it at a speed which decreases from the event horizon.This process is called the Frame Dragging. Because of this effect an object in the ergosphere cannot appear stationary to an observer outside the sphere unless the object was to move at a speed greater than the speed of light .

So the right option is [D] Greater than the speed of Light