- 1. In 1944, the renowned physicist Erwin Schrödinger published a thought-provoking book titled 'What Is Life?', which examined the relationship between the laws of physics and the processes of life. In this seminal work, Schrödinger postulated that living organisms possess a unique order that allows them to defy the second law of thermodynamics, which states that systems tend toward greater disorder over time. He introduced the concept of 'negative entropy,' suggesting that while living systems take in energy and information to maintain their structure and organization, they simultaneously export entropy to their surroundings. Through a blend of physics, biology, and philosophy, Schrödinger speculated on the molecular basis of heredity and life itself, foreshadowing the discoveries of DNA and genetic coding. His reflections not only inspired a generation of scientists but also prompted deep questions about the nature of existence, the essence of life, and the interface between conscious thought and physical reality. The book remains a pivotal piece of literature, encouraging interdisciplinary dialogue and raising fundamental questions about what it means to be alive in a universe governed by physical laws.
What year was 'What Is Life?' originally published?
A) 1935
B) 1927
C) 1944
D) 1951
- 2. Schrödinger's book is famous for influencing the development of which field?
A) Astrophysics
B) Molecular biology
C) Quantum computing
D) Organic chemistry
- 3. According to Schrödinger, what is the fundamental molecule of life?
A) The enzyme
B) The virus
C) The gene
D) The protein
- 4. Schrödinger proposed that living matter evades decay to equilibrium by feeding on what?
A) Organic matter
B) Negative entropy
C) Positive energy
D) Solar radiation
- 5. What term does Schrödinger famously coin for the genetic material?
A) Molecular script
B) Organic polymer
C) Biological code
D) Aperiodic crystal
- 6. Schrödinger's work is credited with inspiring which future Nobel laureates?
A) Pauling and Sanger
B) Einstein and Bohr
C) Watson and Crick
D) Curie and Rutherford
- 7. What field was Schrödinger's primary area of expertise before writing 'What Is Life?'?
A) Biology
B) Chemistry
C) Philosophy
D) Theoretical physics
- 8. According to Schrödinger, what is the most essential feature of living organisms?
A) Their ability to move
B) Their ability to think
C) Their ability to reproduce
D) Their ability to maintain order
- 9. Schrödinger's book is based on a series of public lectures given at what institution?
A) University of Cambridge
B) University of Vienna
C) Princeton University
D) Trinity College, Dublin
- 10. What concept does Schrödinger use to explain how organisms maintain internal order?
A) Adaptation
B) Homeostasis
C) Metabolism
D) Negative entropy (negentropy)
- 11. Schrödinger's work helped bridge the gap between which two fields?
A) Physics and biology
B) Biology and philosophy
C) Chemistry and mathematics
D) Physics and chemistry
- 12. What thermodynamic principle is central to Schrödinger's explanation of life?
A) The zeroth law of thermodynamics
B) The second law of thermodynamics
C) The third law of thermodynamics
D) The first law of thermodynamics
- 13. How does Schrödinger describe the relationship between an organism and its environment?
A) An organism exists in complete isolation from its environment
B) An organism creates perpetual motion
C) An organism accelerates environmental entropy
D) An organism delays its decay into thermodynamic equilibrium
- 14. What is Schrödinger's view on vitalism?
A) He fully endorses it
B) He believes it explains consciousness
C) He considers it the only valid explanation
D) He rejects it as unscientific
- 15. What does Schrödinger suggest about the predictability of mutations?
A) They are caused by conscious will
B) They follow deterministic laws exactly
C) They can be precisely calculated
D) They are inherently unpredictable at the quantum level
- 16. What is the 'aperiodic crystal' that Schrödinger proposes?
A) A perfectly symmetrical mineral
B) A type of glass
C) A crystal that never forms
D) A structure with a non-repeating pattern that can store information
- 17. What is Schrödinger's background that made his biological insights remarkable?
A) He was a physicist, not a biologist
B) He was a chemist by training
C) He was a medical doctor
D) He had no scientific background
- 18. Schrödinger suggests that a gene contains a certain number of atoms to ensure:
A) High energy output
B) Mobility within the cell
C) Rapid mutation rates
D) Stability against random fluctuations
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