Problems on Brian Greene’s “The Fabric of the Cosmos”

David J. Jeffery
Department of Physics
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho

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Portpentagram Publishing (self-published)

2008 January 1
Introduction
Problems on Brian Greene’s “The Fabric of the Cosmos” (PGF) is a supplementary source book
for a modern physics course. The book is available in electronic form to instructors by request to
the author. It is free courseware and can be freely used and distributed, but not used for commercial
purposes.
The problems are grouped by topics in chapters: see Contents below. The chapters correspond
to the chapters of Brian Greene’s The Fabric of the Cosmos. There are only multiple-choice problems.
All the problems have will have complete suggested answers eventually. The answers may be the
greatest benefit of PGF. The questions and answers can be posted on the web in pdf format.
At the end of the book is an appendix of answer tables for multiple choice questions.
PGF is currently under construction and whether it will grow to adequate size depends on
whether I have any chance to teach the modern physics course again.
Everything is written in plain TEX in my own idiosyncratic style. The problems all have codes
and keywords for easy selection electronically or by hand. The keywords will be on the problem
code line with additional ones on the extra keyword line which may also have a reference for the
problem A fortran program for selecting the problems and outputting them in quiz, assignment, and
test formats is also available. Note the quiz, etc. creation procedure is a bit clonky, but it works.
User instructors could easily construct their own programs for problem selection.
I would like to thank the Department of Physics the University of Idaho for its support for this
work. Thanks also to the students who helped flight-test the problems.

Contents
Chapters
1 Roads to Reality
2 The Universe and the Bucket
3 Relativity and the Absolute
Appendices
1 Multiple-Choice Problem Answer Tables

References

Adler, R., Bazin, M., & Schiffer, M. 1975, Introduction to General Relativity (New York:
McGraw-Hill Book Company) (ABS)
Arfken, G. 1970, Mathematical Methods for Physicists (New York: Academic Press) (Ar)
Bernstein, J., Fishbane, P. M., & Gasiorowicz, S. 2000, Modern Physics (Upper Saddle River,
New Jersey: Prentice Hall) (BFG)
Cardwell, D. 1994, The Norton History of Technology (New York: W.W. Norton & Company)
(Ca)
Clark, J. B., Aitken, A. C., & Connor, R. D. 1957, Physical and Mathematical Tables
(Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd Ltd.) (CAC)
French, A. P. 1971, Newtonian Mechanics (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.) (Fr)
Greene, B. 2004, The Fabric of the Cosmos (New York: Vintage Books) (Gre)
Griffiths, D. J. 1995, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:
Prentice Hall) (Gr)
Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. 2000, Fundamentals of Physics, Extended 6th Edition
(New York: Wiley) (HRW)
Hecht, E., & Zajac, A. 1974, Optics (Menlo Park, California: Addison-Wesley Publishing
Company) (HZ)
Jackson, D. J. 1975, Classical Electrodynamics 2th Edition (New York: Wiley) (Ja)
Krauskopf, K. B., & Beiser, A. 2003 The Physical Universe (New York: McGraw-Hill) (KB)
Lawden, D. F. 1975, An Introduction to Tensor Calculus and Relativity (London: Chapman
and Hall) (La)
Jeffery, D. J. 2001, Mathematical Tables (Port Colborne, Canada: Portpentragam Publishing)
(MAT)
Mermin, N. D. 1968, Space and Time in Special Relativity (New York: McGraw-Hill Book
Company) (Me)
Shipman, J. T., Wilson, J. D., & Todd, A. W. 2000 An Introduction to Physical Science (Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company) (SWT)
Weber, H. J., & Arfken, G. B. 2004, Essential Mathematical Methods for Physicists (Amsterdam:
Elsevier Academic Press) (WA)
Wolfson, R., & Pasachoff, J. M. 1990, Physics: Extended with Modern Physics (Glenview Illinois:
Scott, Foresman/Little, Brown Higher Education) (WP)
Chapt. 1 Roads to Reality

Multiple-Choice Problems

001 qmult 00070 1 4 5 easy deducto-memory: seven samurai

Extra keywords: not a serious question
1. “Let’s play Jeopardy! For $100, the answer is: In Akira Kurosawa’s film The Seven Samurai in
the misremembering of popular memory, what the samurai leader said when one of the seven
asked why they were going to defend this miserable village from a horde of marauding bandits.”
What is “ ,” Alex?
a) For honor. b) It is the way of the samurai. c) It is the Tao. d) For a few
dollars more. e) For the fun of it.

001 qmult 00080 1 4 3 easy deducto-memory: Arabian Nights

Extra keywords: mathematical physics
2. “Let’s play Jeopardy! For $100, the answer is: It is a story very much like a course in physics.”
What is , Alex?
a) the Theogony by Hesiod (circa 700 BCE)
b) The Odyssey by Homer (circa 700 BCE?)
c) A Thousand Nights and a Night by Anonymous (circa 800–900)
d) War and Peace by Lev Tolstoy (1828–1910)
e) Ulysses by James Joyce (1882–1941)

001 qmult 00090 1 1 3 easy memory: Greene’s fabric

3. Brian Greene probably titled his popular book on modern physics The Fabric of the Cosmos
mostly maybe because:
a) he’s a proponent of superstring theory.
b) he’s NOT a proponent of superstring theory.
c) in imitation of Stephen Toulmin and June Goodfield’s The Fabric of the Heavens.
d) in the modern age every book has to have a farfetched metaphorical title like The God
Particle or The Snail’s Ear: a title like A Popular Account of Modern Particle Physics and
Cosmology just doesn’t cut it.
e) of random processes.

001 qmult 00095 1 4 5 easy memory: Brian Greene’s ocean

Extra keywords: Gre-580
4. On the back cover of Brian Greene’s The Fabric of the Cosmos (pocket-size paperback), Brian
Greene (one supposes) is in front of an ocean. Which ocean and why?
a) Greene lives in New York state, and so it’s probably the Atlantic Ocean.
b) It’s not an ocean. One can descry Port Colborne, Ontario on the horizon. He’s in front of
Lake Erie on the New York State side. In fact, he’s probably at Angola-on-the-Lake—which
is not in Africa whatever you may think.
2 Chapt. 1 Vector Analysis

c) Well . . .
. . . like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He star’d at the Pacific—and all his men
Look’d at each other with a wild surmise—
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.
d) Quoting Newton:
I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have
been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and
then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great
ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.
That’s the one.
e) I’ve no idea.

001 qmult 06030 1 4 5 easy deducto-memory: superstring theory defn.

Extra keywords: Gre-17–18
5. “Let’s play Jeopardy! For $100, the answer is: In this physical theory (circa 2004 at least),
the basic element of matter is a string/filament/little-thingy which vibrates in different ways to
make the fundamental particles (e.g., electron, neutrino, quark). The theory requires 9 or 10
space dimensions plus 1 time dimension and thus 10 or 11 spacetime dimensions. The higher
numbers are for the version called M-theory.”
What is , Alex?
a) Aristotelian physics b) Newtonian physics c) Einsteinian relativistic physics
d) quantum mechancis e) superstring theory

001 qmult 06040 2 3 3 moderate math: Planck units

Extra keywords: Gre-17
6. The Planck units are quantities constructed by dimensional analysis from 5 fundamental
constants:
c = 2.99792458 × 108 m/s ≈ 3 × 108 m/s


 the vacuum light speed;
2 2




 G = 6.67428(67) × 10 −11
J m/kg ≈ 7 × 10 −11
J m/kg the gravitational constant



 which can also be given


 the units
m5 /(J s4 );








 −
h = 1.054571628(53) × 10 −34
J s ≈ 1 × 10 −34
Js which is h-bar or Dirac’s


 constant
 or Planck’s constant



 divided by 2π;

 1
kC = = 8.987551787 × 109 J m/C2 ≈ 9 × 109 J m/C2 the Coulomb force constant


4πǫ0






 where
ǫ0 = 8.854187817 × 1012 F/m




is the vacuum permittivity;






k = 1.3806504(24) × 10−23 J/K ≈ 1.4 × 10−23 J/K which is Boltzmann’s constant,

where the values have been taken from Wikipedia (2007oct21). The Planck units (originally
proposed by Max Planck) are based only on general universal physics and not arbitrary human
choices. They should have some fundamental significance and are often ingredients in advanced
theory. Its helpful in constructing Planck units to note that G/c4 has units of m/J and G/c5
has units of s/J (which incidentally makes it the inverse of the Planck power).
 Chapt. 1 Vector Analysis 3

Brian Greene (Gre-17), in the customary arcane jargon of grand high theorists, refers
to a length “some hundred billion billion times smaller than a single atomic nucleus.” Atomic
nuclei have a size scale of order 10−15 m. Evidently, he is referring to the Planck length.
Construct the Planck length from the above constants and evaluate it approximately.
q q
a) − h c5 /G ≈ 1.8 × 109 m b) − h G/c5 ≈ 5 × 10−44 m
q q
c) − h G/c3 ≈ 1.6 × 10−35 m d) − h c/G ≈ 2 × 10−8 m
q
e) c5 /(− h G) ≈ 2 × 1043 m

001 qmult 08010 1 1 1 easy thinking: coming of age

7. Nowadays takeoffs on cultural detritus of all kinds frequently occur without any
acknowledgement. The section title Coming of Age in Space and Time of Greene’s chapter
1, section 8 is probably a takeoff on:
a) both of (b) and (c) maybe.
b) Coming of Age in the Milky Way (1989) by Timothy Ferris (1944–).
c) Coming of Age in Somoa (1928) by Margaret Mead (1901–1978).
d) The Waning of the Middle Ages (1924) by Johan Huizinga (1872–1945).
e) Coming of Nonage in Fermullan by Thomas Caskey, Sr. (1883–1964 or so).

Full-Answer Problems
Chapt. 2 The Universe and the Bucket

Multiple-Choice Problems

002 qmult 03010 1 4 1 easy deducto-memory: Newton bucket

Extra keywords: mathematical physics
1. “Let’s play Jeopardy! For $100, the answer is: A thought experiment (which can actually be
done) that has been used for arguing for absolute space as a physically active thing.”
What is , Alex?
a) Newton’s bucket experiment b) Maxwell’s demon experiment
c) Einstein’s elevator experiment d) Bohr’s microscope experiment
e) Schrödinger’s cat experiment

002 qmult 05030 1 4 1 easy deducto-memory: Ernst Mach glory

Extra keywords: Gre-33
2. Ersnt Mach (1838–1916), a Czech-Austrian physicist, is noted for Mach’s principle (first so
called by Einstein). This principle, which is really vague hypothesis, is that inertia is determined
somehow by the universal distribution of mass. How it does so and what formulae apply have
never adequately established. Mach is also famous:
a) for Mach number. This is the speed of an object relative to a fluid medium in units of the
sound speed in that medium.
b) in ornithology. He is the eponym of the Machingbird.
c) for work in pyrology. You’ve heard of machsticks.
d) the invention of the mach: a kind of cooking pan.
e) for his forceful character whence “macho”, “machismo”, and “Sado-Machocism”.

002 qmult 06010 1 4 3 easy deducto-memory: Mach principle

Extra keywords: mathematical physics
3. “Let’s play Jeopardy! For $100, the answer is: It is the vague hypothesis that the bulk
distribution of matter in the universe determines the inertial mass of bodies.”
What is , Alex?
a) Zeno’s paradox b) Fermat’s last theorem c) Mach’s principle
d) Poincaré’s conjecture e) the Merton thesis

Full-Answer Problems
Chapt. 3 Relativity and the Absolute

Multiple-Choice Problems

003 qmult 10030 1 1 2 easy memory: GR accelerated motion

Extra keywords: Gre-67
1. In general relativity, free-fall with no other forces acting is at least in Gre-67’s interpretation
(and this interpretation is different from one used in most physics contexts):
a) accelerated motion. b) unaccelerated motion. c) simple harmonic oscillation.
d) anharmonic oscillation. e) static equilibrium.

003 qmult 11010 1 4 3 easy deducto-memory: general relativity 1

Extra keywords: Gre-498
2. “Let’s play Jeopardy! For $100, the answer is: It is a theory in which mass-energy determines the
geometry of spacetime and in which the geometry of spacetime (which is the cause of gravity)
plus other forces determine the motion of mass-energy.”
What is , Alex?
a) quantum mechanics b) special relativity c) general relativity
d) Newtonian physics e) Maxwellian electromagnetism

003 qmult 13030 1 1 4 easy memory: dynamic spacetime

Extra keywords: Gre-75
3. Because spacetime responds to mass-energy in general relativity, one can say that in general
relativity spacetime is:
a) static. b) ellipsoidal. c) hyperbolical. d) dynamic. e) flat.

Full-Answer Problems
Chapt. 4 Entangling Space

Multiple-Choice Problems

Full-Answer Problems
Appendix 5 Multiple-Choice Problem Answer Tables

Note: For those who find scantrons frequently inaccurate and prefer to have their own table and
marking template, the following are provided. I got the template trick from Neil Huffacker at
University of Oklahoma. One just punches out the right answer places on an answer table and
overlays it on student answer tables and quickly identifies and marks the wrong answers

Answer Table for the Multiple-Choice Questions

a b c d e a b c d e
1. O O O O O 6. O O O O O
2. O O O O O 7. O O O O O
3. O O O O O 8. O O O O O
4. O O O O O 9. O O O O O
5. O O O O O 10. O O O O O
8 Appendix 5 Multiple-Choice Problem Answer Tables

Answer Table for the Multiple-Choice Questions

a b c d e a b c d e
1. O O O O O 11. O O O O O
2. O O O O O 12. O O O O O
3. O O O O O 13. O O O O O
4. O O O O O 14. O O O O O
5. O O O O O 15. O O O O O
6. O O O O O 16. O O O O O
7. O O O O O 17. O O O O O
8. O O O O O 18. O O O O O
9. O O O O O 19. O O O O O
10. O O O O O 20. O O O O O
 Appendix 5 Multiple-Choice Problem Answer Tables 9

Answer Table for the Multiple-Choice Questions

a b c d e a b c d e
1. O O O O O 16. O O O O O
2. O O O O O 17. O O O O O
3. O O O O O 18. O O O O O
4. O O O O O 19. O O O O O
5. O O O O O 20. O O O O O
6. O O O O O 21. O O O O O
7. O O O O O 22. O O O O O
8. O O O O O 23. O O O O O
9. O O O O O 24. O O O O O
10. O O O O O 25. O O O O O
11. O O O O O 26. O O O O O
12. O O O O O 27. O O O O O
13. O O O O O 28. O O O O O
14. O O O O O 29. O O O O O
15. O O O O O 30. O O O O O
10 Appendix 5 Multiple-Choice Problem Answer Tables

NAME:
Answer Table for the Multiple-Choice Questions
a b c d e a b c d e
1. O O O O O 26. O O O O O
2. O O O O O 27. O O O O O
3. O O O O O 28. O O O O O
4. O O O O O 29. O O O O O
5. O O O O O 30. O O O O O
6. O O O O O 31. O O O O O
7. O O O O O 32. O O O O O
8. O O O O O 33. O O O O O
9. O O O O O 34. O O O O O
10. O O O O O 35. O O O O O
11. O O O O O 36. O O O O O
12. O O O O O 37. O O O O O
13. O O O O O 38. O O O O O
14. O O O O O 39. O O O O O
15. O O O O O 40. O O O O O
16. O O O O O 41. O O O O O
17. O O O O O 42. O O O O O
18. O O O O O 43. O O O O O
19. O O O O O 44. O O O O O
20. O O O O O 45. O O O O O
21. O O O O O 46. O O O O O
22. O O O O O 47. O O O O O
23. O O O O O 48. O O O O O
24. O O O O O 49. O O O O O
25. O O O O O 50. O O O O O
 Appendix 5 Multiple-Choice Problem Answer Tables 11

Answer Table Name:

a b c d e a b c d e
1. O O O O O 31. O O O O O
2. O O O O O 32. O O O O O
3. O O O O O 33. O O O O O
4. O O O O O 34. O O O O O
5. O O O O O 35. O O O O O
6. O O O O O 36. O O O O O
7. O O O O O 37. O O O O O
8. O O O O O 38. O O O O O
9. O O O O O 39. O O O O O
10. O O O O O 40. O O O O O
11. O O O O O 41. O O O O O
12. O O O O O 42. O O O O O
13. O O O O O 43. O O O O O
14. O O O O O 44. O O O O O
15. O O O O O 45. O O O O O
16. O O O O O 46. O O O O O
17. O O O O O 47. O O O O O
18. O O O O O 48. O O O O O
19. O O O O O 49. O O O O O
20. O O O O O 50. O O O O O
21. O O O O O 51. O O O O O
22. O O O O O 52. O O O O O
23. O O O O O 53. O O O O O
24. O O O O O 54. O O O O O
25. O O O O O 55. O O O O O
26. O O O O O 56. O O O O O
27. O O O O O 57. O O O O O
28. O O O O O 58. O O O O O
29. O O O O O 59. O O O O O
30. O O O O O 60. O O O O O