1. Which of the molecules below is a prolate symmetric top?
(A) Water
(B) Benzene
(C) Sulfur hexafluoride
(D) Ethane

2. Which of the molecules below is a prolate symmetric top?
(A) Water asymmetric top
(B) Benzene oblate symmetric top
(C) Sulfur hexafluoride spherical top
(D) Ethane prolate symmetric top

3. Consider a nonlinear polyatomic molecule with N atoms. In the absence
of external fields, how many coordinates do I need to describe the
vibrations of the molecule.
(A) 3N
(B) 3N - 3
(C) 3N - 6
(D) 2N

4. Consider a nonlinear polyatomic molecule with N atoms. In the absence
of external fields, how many coordinates do I need to describe the
vibrations of the molecule.
(A) 3N This is how many coordinates all the atoms have. Not all are needed for vibrations.
(B) 3N – 3 This would reflect that the position of the molecule as a whole (the COM position) is unnecessary to describe the vibrations, which is true, but ...
(C) 3N the orientation in space is of no consequence either
(D) 2N This makes no sense.

5. Recall the potential of the Harmonic oscillator. If you have n
Harmonic Oscillators with coordinates qk, how do you describe the total potential energy of the system?
(A)
(B)
(C)

6. Recall the potential of the Harmonic oscillator. If you have n
Harmonic Oscillators with coordinates qk, how do you describe the total potential energy of the system?
(A)
(B)
(C)