Problem: First recognized in 1900 by Max Planck, it was originally the proportionality constant between the minimal increment of energy, E, of a hypothetical electrically charged oscillator in a cavity that contained black body radiation, and the frequency, f, of its associated electromagnetic wave. In 1905 the value E, the minimal energy increment of a hypothetical oscillator, was theoretically associated by Einstein with a "quantum" or minimal element of the energy of the electromagnetic wave itself. The light quantum behaved in some respects as an electrically neutral particle, as opposed to an electromagnetic wave. It was eventually called the photon.

Classical statistical mechanics requires the existence of h (but does not define its value). Eventually, following upon Planck's discovery, it was recognized that physical action cannot take on an arbitrary value. Instead, it must be some multiple of a very small quantity, the "quantum of action", now called the Planck constant. Classical physics cannot explain this fact. In many cases, such as for monochromatic light or for atoms, this quantum of action also implies that only certain energy levels are allowed, and values in between are forbidden.
1. Who originally associated the minimal energy increment of a hypothetical oscillator with a "quantum" or minimal element of the energy of the electromagnetic wave itself?
2. When did he do this?
3. What letter is the value called?
4. How did the light value behave?
5. As opposed to what?
6. What was it later called?
7. Who was energy E originally recognized by?
8. What type of action can't take an arbitrary value?
9. What must it be instead?
10. What is that also known as?
11. Is there another name for it?
12. What is it?
13. Is this fact widely understood in physics?
14. What does this imply about energy levels?
15. What about values in between?
Answer: 1. Einstein
2. In 1905
3. E
4. as an electrically neutral particle
5. an electromagnetic wave
6. the photon
7. Max Planck
8. a physical one
9. some multiple of a very small quantity
10. the "quantum of action"
11. yes
12. the Planck constant
13. no
14. only certain ones are allowed
15. they're forbidden

Problem: CHAPTER XI

AT AUCTION

Jimmy went back to the ranch beside the Fraser once, but Jordan went without him several times, for Forster apparently found his company congenial. It happened that he contrived to see a good deal of Eleanor Wheelock during his visits, but neither of them mentioned this to Jimmy, who, indeed, would probably have concerned himself little about it had he heard of it, since he had other things to think about just then. Merril had sent his father a formal notice that unless the money due should be paid by a certain time, the schooner would be sold as stipulated in the bond, and, though Tom Wheelock had expected nothing else, he apparently collapsed altogether under the final blow.

Jordan, who had just come back from Forster's ranch, arrived on board the _Tyee_ while the doctor was talking to Jimmy, and, strolling forward, he sat down on the windlass and commenced a conversation with Prescott, with whom he had promptly made friends. In the meanwhile, Jimmy looked at the doctor a trifle wearily as he leaned on the rail.

"Perhaps my mind's not as clear as usual to-day, but these scientific terms don't convey very much to me," he said.

"In plain English, then," said the doctor, "it is general break-down your father is suffering from, though it is intensified by a partial loss of control over the muscles on one side of him. The latter trouble is, perhaps, the result of what one might call constitutional causes, but, as you seem to fancy, worry and nervous strain, or a shock of any kind, may have accelerated it or brought about the climax."
1. Where had Jordan just come back from?
2. What was Eleanor's last name?
3. Who was the doctor talking about when he said he'd use plain English?
4. What did he say the father was suffering from?
5. What had Merril sent the father?
6. Did it say the house would be sold if the money wasn't paid?
7. What might get sold?
8. Who collapsed when hearing this?
9. What did Jordan arrive on?
10. Who was the doctor talking to then?
11. What's the title of the chapter?
12. Did Jordan ever go to the ranch without Jimmy?
Answer: 1. Forster's ranch
2. Wheelock
3. the father
4. general break-down
5. a formal notice
6. No
7. the schooner
8. Tom Wheelock
9. on board the _Tyee_
10. Jimmy
11. AT AUCTION
12. Yes

Problem: Once upon a time, there was a family with eighteen children in a small village not far from Nuremberg. Eighteen! In spite of the hopeless condition, two of the children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art. After many long discussions, the two boys finally worked out an agreement. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother who attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy.

They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was excellent. By the time he graduated, he had earned considerable fees for his works.

When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming, where Albrecht drank a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled him to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, "Now you can go to Nuremberg to look for your dream, and I will take care of you."

Tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side, Albert sobbed, "No... no... no...no. It is too late for me. Look...look at what four years in the mines has done to my hands! I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less draw delicate lines with a pen or a brush... For me, it is too late."

To show thanks to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands", but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed it "The Praying Hands".

The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one - no one - no one ever makes it alone!
1. Who hosted a dinner?
2. When?
3. And why did they do this?
4. Who did he drink a toast to?
5. Why?
6. What did he say at the end?
7. What did the brothers dream of doing when they were kids?
8. How did they plan to do this?
9. Which one got to go to school?
10. Did Albert get to go?
Answer:
1. the Durer family
2. When Albrecht returned to his village
3. to celebrate his triumphant homecoming
4. his brother
5. for the years of sacrifice the brother made to pay for his art school
6. Now you can go to Nuremberg to look for your dream, and I will take care of you
7. pursue their talent for art
8. One would work in the mines to support the other one's tuition, then trade places
9. Albrecht
10. no