Question

1. For an ideal gas at a constant temperature, which variable change corresponds directly to how much work can be extracted from an engine process? Explain why.

2. You learned how the Doppler effect can be used to show how sound waves will change their frequency when the source object is moving. How can this knowledge be applied toward studying how stars move?

3. A lightning rod is a pointed copper rod mounted on top of a building and welded to a heavy copper cable running down into the ground. Lightning rods are used to protect buildings from lightning; the lightning current runs through the copper rather than through the building. Why does it do this?

4. Some older cars have antennas that can be manually retracted and extended (changing the length). Suppose your friend drives one of these cars and never extends the antenna. Explain to them why this is not the best decision if they want their songs to come in on the radio clearly.

5. Why is it that rainbows always show up with red on the outside of the arc and blue on the inside? Can you have a rainbow with its colors reversed?

Answer 1