Questions from Modern Physics

Q: The inside of an oven is at a temperature of 200°

The inside of an oven is at a temperature of 200°C (392°F). You can put your hand in the oven without injury as long as you don’t touch anything. But since the air inside the oven is also at 200°C...

Q: (a). Does a sound level of 0 dB mean that

(a). Does a sound level of 0 dB mean that there is no sound? (b). Is there any physical meaning to a sound having a negative intensity level? If so, what is it? (c). Does a sound intensity of zero m...

Q: A newspaper article about the weather states that “the temperature of

A newspaper article about the weather states that “the temperature of a body measures how much heat the body contains.” Is this description correct? Why or why not?

Q: In some household air conditioners used in dry climates, air is

In some household air conditioners used in dry climates, air is cooled by blowing it through a water-soaked filter, evaporating some of the water. How does this cool the air? Would such a system work...

Q: Does the sound intensity level b obey the inverse-square law

Does the sound intensity level b obey the inverse-square law? Why?

Q: Use the concepts of the kinetic-molecular model to explain:

Use the concepts of the kinetic-molecular model to explain: (a). why the pressure of a gas in a rigid container increases as heat is added to the gas and (b). why the pressure of a gas increases as...

Q: A piece of aluminum foil used to wrap a potato for baking

A piece of aluminum foil used to wrap a potato for baking in a hot oven can usually be handled safely within a few seconds after the potato is removed from the oven. The same is not true of the potato...

Q: When a car is driven some distance, the air pressure in

When a car is driven some distance, the air pressure in the tires increases. Why? Should you let out some air to reduce the pressure? Why or why not?

Q: If the pressure of an ideal monatomic gas is increased while the

If the pressure of an ideal monatomic gas is increased while the number of moles is kept constant, what happens to the average translational kinetic energy of one atom of the gas? Is it possible to ch...

Q: Two vibrating tuning forks have identical frequencies, but one is stationary

Two vibrating tuning forks have identical frequencies, but one is stationary and the other is mounted at the rim of a rotating platform. What does a listener hear? Explain.