Highest Scoring Entry for 2007 Physics World Quiz Contest?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the 2007 Physics World Quiz Contest, where participants share answers and insights regarding various questions from the quiz. The scope includes collaborative problem-solving, sharing of sources, and speculation about the answers.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants provide answers to specific quiz questions, such as "B" relating to a radiation symbol and its intended use.
  • Others propose answers for various numbered questions, including references to scientific experiments and historical figures, such as the Karlsruhe tritium neutrino experiment and John W. Backus.
  • There is speculation about the identity of a "lone" German scientist involved in Soviet war technology, with names like Helmut Groettrup and Oswald Putze mentioned.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about certain answers, particularly regarding question 20, and discuss the potential for translation errors in the quiz.
  • There are discussions about the implications of entering the contest and suggestions that any winnings should benefit the Physics Forums community.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on several quiz answers, particularly for questions 12 and 20. There are multiple competing views regarding the identity of the scientist in question and the interpretation of certain quiz items.

Contextual Notes

Some answers rely on external sources, and there is acknowledgment of potential gaps in knowledge or assumptions about the quiz questions. The discussion reflects a mix of certainty and uncertainty regarding the answers provided.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in quiz competitions, physics trivia, or collaborative problem-solving in scientific contexts may find this discussion relevant.

ZapperZ
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Hey, Physics World has http://images.iop.org/dl/physicsweb/PWDec07quiz.pdf" from 2007. There's a £50 prize for someone who gets most of the answer.

Wouldn't it be nice if a PF member wins this? :)

Zz.
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
I've got the answer for "B" at the top of the page concerning this sign:

http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/images/newradiationsymbol_300x200.gif


The image in the top portion of the triangle is a fan blade----these signs are in public bathrooms. So the sign indicates, if the fan isn't working---it's best to leave at a fast pace!
 
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A. Karlsruhe tritium neutrino experiment.[/color]
Source:
http://www2.lns.mit.edu/neutrino/KATRIN.html"
 
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B.
The symbol is intended for IAEA Category 1, 2 and 3 sources defined as dangerous sources capable of death or serious injury, including food irradiators, teletherapy machines for cancer treatment and industrial radiography units. The symbol is to be placed on the device housing the source, as a warning not to dismantle the device or to get any closer. It will not be visible under normal use, only if someone attempts to disassemble the device. The symbol will not be located on building access doors, transportation packages or containers.
[/color]
Source:
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2007/radiationsymbol.html"
 
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D:

Cassini

Source:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap071010.html"
 
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1.

Hawking

Source:
http://www.news.com/2300-11397_3-6179718-1.html"
 
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3.

University of Florida

Source:
http://news.ufl.edu/2007/05/30/huge-wind-machine/"
 
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  • #10
6.

Sunshine

Source:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448134/"
 
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  • #11
rewebster said:
The image in the top portion of the triangle is a fan blade----these signs are in public bathrooms. So the sign indicates, if the fan isn't working---it's best to leave at a fast pace!
One thing's for sure, it ain't the entrance to the Trilateral Commision.
 
  • #12
I know the answers to 11. through 18.
 
  • #13
7.

During a a high-pressure test of critical components:
"At 20 bar, there was a sudden release of helium gas (used to cool the magnets), something went bang, and sirens sounded, alerting the fire brigade."

Source:
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/may07/5083"
 
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  • #14
8.

carbon nanotubes.

Source:
http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0953-8984/19/39/395001/"
 
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  • #15
9.

Borexino.

Source:
http://www.w2agz.com/Library/SuperGrid/Popular%20Articles/PWJul07news_paul_grant.pdf"
(article near the bottom entitled: Neutrino detector finally starts up.)
 
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  • #18
20.

184 pounds

Source:
http://www.trumanlibrary.org/museum/sputnik1.htm"
 
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  • #19
24.

30 days

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_1"
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_2"
 
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  • #20
So Jimmy, are you going to enter this contest or what? :)

Zz.
 
  • #21
I think if anyone enters from this thread then the money should go to PF.
 
  • #22
ZapperZ said:
So Jimmy, are you going to enter this contest or what? :)
Zz.
I might if I get all of them. I assume there are many people who can google as well as or better than I.
 
  • #23
23.

Korolev?

I'm not sure about this one. My guy spent only 6 years in prison and only a part of that in a labor camp. It was before, not after sputnik.
Source:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14949640"
 
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  • #24
22.

Inside were two one-watt radio transmitters and three silver-zinc batteries - two for powering the radio beacons and one for a ventilation fan. The sphere was filled with nitrogen gas pressurised to 130 kilopascals (1.3 atmospheres).

Source:
This article mentions some of the equipment, but I don't know if it is an exhaustive list.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6937964.stm"
 
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  • #25
20. I can't find this one. Here's an article that suggests that there was no such person.
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/gorodomlya.html"
Perhaps he was the janitor and kept the keys. Anybody got a better answer?
 
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  • #26
5.

Nordic skiing

Source:
http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Astronauts_Urged_To_Take_Up_Skiing_Ahead_Of_Lunar_Missions_999.html"
 
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  • #27
C.

Carl Friedrich von Weizsacker

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Friedrich_von_Weizs%C3%A4cker"
 
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  • #28
11.

John Polkinghorne

Source:
http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/faraday/Issues.php"

13.

Steven Weinberg

Source:
http://www.templeton-cambridge.org/fellows/brooks/publications/2006.11.20/beyond_belief/"

14.

Sir Patrick Moore

Source:
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/celebrity/article1308585.ece"

15.

Freeman Dyson

Source:
http://edge.org/3rd_culture/dysonf07/dysonf07_index.html"

16.

Ken Caldeira

Source:
http://www.nasw.org/users/schirber/bibliography/pdfs/PWFeb07news-geoengineering.pdf"

17.

Frank Close

Source:
http://trust.mindswap.org/downloads/PWJan07web-two.pdf"

18.

John Conway

Source:
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/print/27731"
 
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  • #29
It seems I have found all except for 12 and 20. George Jones has the answer to 12. If someone gets 20, then we should follow Kurdt's suggestion and send the lot in as physicsforums.
 
  • #30
Oswald Putze might be the answer to 20. I tried googling his name and he was certainly involved but there's not much info on him. I thought he'd at least have a wiki article if he was the one.
 

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