Physicists attempting to create

Answer choices

1. A

   Too Strong: usually1% picked this

   When physicists create new kinds of atoms by fusing together two existing atoms, the new atoms usually

   The information we've heard supports the possibility that when physicists create new kinds of atoms, the new atoms might split apart again immediately. But we have no support for the idea that in more than 50% of cases it splits apart again immediately.

   1%
2. B

   Contradicted, if anything3% picked this

   If a new atom produced by the collision of two other atoms immediately splits apart again, then the collision did not produce enough energy

   The information is telling us, too little energy ? electromagnetic force repels atoms, new one never forms just right energy ? electromagnetic is overcome, new atom stays together too much energy ? electromagnetic is overcome, new atom forms, but then splits apart again So if the new atom splits apart, that means we had too much energy. It "greatly exceeds the minimum required for the fusion to take place (for the separate atoms to overcome the electromagnetic force).

   3%
3. C

   Too Strong6% picked this

   The stronger the electromagnetic force by which two atoms repel each other, the hotter any new atom will be that is created by

   Too Strong: the more X, the more Y This seems pretty tempting. The stronger the electromagnetic force, the more collision energy two atoms would have to have to overcome it and create a new atom. Were we told that "the more energy there is in the collision, the hotter the new atom is"? Not quite. We were told that excess energy will be converted into heat. So it's not the absolute amount of energy needed to overcome the electromagnetic force, it's the relative sense of how much we overshoot that threshold. If atoms A and B repel each other with 50 units of repellant, we'll need at least 51 units of collision energy to make a new atom. If they collide with 60 units of collision energy, the excess (+10) will be converted to heat. If atoms X and Y repel each other with 100 units of repellant, we'll need at least 101 units of collision energy to make a new atom. If they collide with 110 units of collision energy, the excess (+10) will be converted to heat. We can only prove the new atom formed is only going to be hotter if one collision overshoots the minimum energy more than another new atom does. But if a collision just barely eclipses the minimum energy, then even if the minimum energy is some huge amount, it still won't heat up the atom.

   6%
4. D

   Too Strong: little produced unless3% picked this

   Whenever two existing atoms are made to collide and fuse together into a new atom, little energy is produced in the collision unless

   We can't sign off on any massive generalization about two atoms colliding to fuse into a new atom. All we know is that the collision was enough to overcome the electromagnetic force. We don't know how much energy was or wasn't produced in the collision, and we have no way to permanently anchor that concept to whether the new atom did or didn't immediately split apart.

   3%
5. E

   Correct88% picked this

   If two atoms collide with considerably more energy than is needed for fusion to take place, the new atom will be likely

   Why this is right

   This is just saying, "if we miss the sweet spot and collide with too much energy (considerably more than the minimum), then the excess energy will be converted into heat, making the atom very hot, increasing the chance that it will immediately split apart again".

   Skill tested: Most Supported · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   88%