Packet 4: Bonus 14
Central to this field of mechanics is the fluctuation–dissipation theorem, which states that random deviations in a system’s variables correspond to losses in energy. For 10 points each:
[10h] Name this field of mechanics whose name was coined by J. Willard Gibbs, who developed the concept of its namesake “ensembles.” This field applies probability theory to systems of particles.
ANSWER: statistical mechanics [or statistical physics or statistical thermodynamics or stat mech; accept statistical ensembles]
[10e] One example of the fluctuation–dissipation theorem is this scientist’s eponymous “heating,” in which an electrical resistor generates noise that dissipates thermal energy. This Englishman names the SI unit of energy.
ANSWER: James Prescott Joule
[10m] As time approaches infinity, thermal fluctuations may create this physicist’s namesake “brains.” Fluctuations follow a statistical distribution named for this physicist who defined entropy in his H-theorem.
ANSWER: Ludwig Boltzmann [accept Boltzmann distribution or Boltzmann brains]
<Physics — June Yin> | SHOW-ME Four Packet 4
| Heard | PPB | E % | M % | H % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 13.68 | 63% | 53% | 21% |
Conversion
| Team | Opponent | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Total | Parts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (not so) Evil Empire | Bombardino Rizzbaino and the Tung Tung Tung Trio | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | HEM |
| Detroit Catholic Central A | Williamston | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | E |
| Detroit Catholic Central B | Hillsdale Academy A | 0 | 10 | 10 | 20 | EM |
| Detroit Country Day B | Rockford B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fremd Larpers | ccny potato salad | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | HEM |
| Merrol Hyde A | Owensboro | 0 | 10 | 10 | 20 | EM |
| Merrol Hyde B | Athens Bible School | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Okemos A | Detroit Country Day A | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | E |
| POA | Copilot, give me a witty team name for an online quizbowl tournament | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30 | HEM |
| Quaker Oats | washed and braindead!!! | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Taylor | Holt | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Traverse City Central A | Coldwater | 10 | 10 | 0 | 20 | HE |
| Traverse City Central B | Troy B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| USN A | Portland High | 0 | 10 | 10 | 20 | EM |
| USN B | Harpeth Hall | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | E |
| USN C | Franklin Road Academy | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | M |
| Utica Academy | Okemos B | 0 | 10 | 10 | 20 | EM |
| White Cloud A | Hillsdale Academy D | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | M |
| son toliver | ASCA (Ava, Sean, Chris, and Aiden) | 0 | 10 | 10 | 20 | EM |
Summary
| Tournament | Edition | Match | Heard | PPB | E % | M % | H % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rube Goldberg XIX | 11/20/2025 | ✓ | 9 | 10.00 | 56% | 33% | 11% |
| SHOW-ME Four Nationwide HS | 11/20/2025 | ✓ | 5 | 22.00 | 80% | 80% | 60% |
| SPOOKY IX | 11/20/2025 | ✓ | 5 | 12.00 | 60% | 60% | 0% |