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Listen & Learn: Fundamental Forces

4th December 2024 by Jaksyn Peacock
A gravitational field. Image by Johnson Martin (Pixabay)

Pre-listening vocabulary

  • matter: any type of physical material
  • massive: having a lot of matter
  • bend: to change the shape of something
  • attraction: a force that draws things together
  • repulsion: a force that pulls things apart
  • nucleus: the centre of an atom
  • unified: together as one
  • prove: to show that something is true

Listening activity

Gapfill exercise

The fundamental forces are the four basic forces that control interactions of matter. The most well-known force is . This is the force that draws large objects together. The theory that explains gravity is Einstein’s theory of general relativity. General relativity states that massive objects bend space and , which causes other objects to fall toward them. However, gravity is the weakest force. The other forces are the electromagnetic force, the weak nuclear force, and the strong nuclear force. These forces work on small particles. The electromagnetic force controls the attraction and repulsion of charged particles, like protons and electrons. The weak nuclear force can one particle into another type of particle. The strong nuclear force holds particles together in the nucleus of an atom. Scientists believe that at the beginning of time, all four forces were unified. This is difficult to prove, because the of general relativity don’t work at small scales. This means that there is no current that can unify gravity with the other forces.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

  1. The theory that explains gravity is
    a. special relativity
    b. general relativity
    c. quantum mechanics
  2. Gravity is
    a. the strongest force
    b. the second strongest force
    c. the weakest force
  3. The electromagnetic force
    a. changes particle types
    b. holds particles together in the nucleus of an atom
    c. controls the attraction and repulsion of charged particles

Discussion/essay questions

  1. Unifying the forces is one part of a big problem for scientists. Scientists use two theories to explain the universe: relativity and quantum theory. These theories have different laws. Scientists hope to find a “theory of everything” that uses the same laws to explain all things. Do you think it is possible for humans to discover the theory of everything? Why or why not?

Transcript

The fundamental forces are the four basic forces that control interactions of matter. The most well-known force is gravity. This is the force that draws large objects together. The theory that explains gravity is Einstein’s theory of general relativity. General relativity states that massive objects bend space and time, which causes other objects to fall toward them. However, gravity is the weakest force. The other forces are the electromagnetic force, the weak nuclear force, and the strong nuclear force. These forces work on small particles. The electromagnetic force controls the attraction and repulsion of charged particles, like protons and electrons. The weak nuclear force can change one particle into another type of particle. The strong nuclear force holds particles together in the nucleus of an atom. Scientists believe that at the beginning of time, all four forces were unified. This is difficult to prove, because the laws of general relativity don’t work at small scales. This means that there is no current theory that can unify gravity with the other forces.

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2c 3c

Albert Einstein

11th March 2020 by Jaksyn Peacock

Pre-listening vocabulary

  • influential: important and powerful; having influence
  • fascinated: very interested in something
  • introduce: to make something known for the first time
  • achievement: something that is completed successfully
  • target: a person that a certain group wants to attack
  • physicist: a scientist that specializes in physics

Listening activity

Gapfill exercise

Albert Einstein was one of the most influential of the 20th century. He was born in Germany in 1879, and began attending school in 1885. As Einstein got older, he became fascinated with the nature of . He published his first scientific paper at the age of 16, and later went on to study at a university in Switzerland. In 1905, Einstein published four scientific papers. The papers introduced his theory of special relativity, which allowed scientists to better understand the between time and space. Einstein won the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his achievements. In the 1930s, however, Einstein became a target of the Nazi Party of Germany. He moved to the U.S. to protect himself, and continued to work as a physicist. Einstein died in 1955, but his brain is kept in the Princeton University Medical Center, and it is still by scientists today.

Comprehension questions

[wp_quiz id=”19295″]

Discussion/essay questions

  1. Some people wanted to use Einstein’s discoveries to develop weapons, such as the atomic bomb. What is your opinion on the use of new scientific discoveries to build stronger weapons?

Transcript

Albert Einstein was one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century. He was born in Germany in 1879, and he began attending school in 1885. As Einstein got older, he became fascinated with the nature of light. He wrote his first scientific paper at the age of 16, and later went on to study physics at a university in Switzerland. In 1905, Einstein published four scientific papers. The papers introduced his theory of special relativity, which allowed scientists to better understand the connection between time and space. Einstein won the Nobel Prize in 1921 for his achievements. In the 1930s, however, Einstein became a target of the Nazi Party of Germany. He moved to the U.S. to protect himself, and continued to work as a physicist. Einstein died in 1955, but his brain is still kept in the Princeton University Medical Center. Scientists still study it today.