1. Copenhagen
Michael Frayn

2. Sir Ernest Rutherford’s Planetary Structure of the Atom
(1911)

3. Niels Bohr Further developed the Planetary structure of
( )
Further developed the
Planetary structure of
Atoms, arguing that
Electrons in the outer
Orbit characterize the
Chemical properties of
the element and that an
Electron could drop from a
higher orbit to a lower one…
as it released a light photon
(quantum of light)… hence
“The Quantum Theory”

4. Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976) Heisenberg worked with Bohr to
Tease out the properties of the
Atom which, as Einstein had noted,
Contained energy that might
Somehow be released even though
Atoms represented matter!
In trying to understand the nature
Of the atome, Heisenberg developed the “Uncertainty Principle” which addressed the im-
possibility of observing anything
without affecting what you can learn from it.

5. Part of the “Copenhagen Interpretation”
Complementarity -
Part of the “Copenhagen Interpretation”
A single quantum mechanical entity can either behave as a particle or as wave, but never simultaneously as both

7. Margrethe Bohr
( )
Although not trained as physicist, Margrethe
Worked through some ideas the Bohr advocated
While she was transcribing his notes and, as in
The play, often offered insights.

8. Do you think Heisenberg deliberately avoided
Calculating the right amounted of U235 needed
For an explosion?
A.) Yes
B.) No
C.) Uncertain

9. Does Margrethe have a useful function in the play.
If so… what is her role?
A.) Yes
B.) No
C.) Uncertain

10. What do you think Frayn is trying to communicate
to playgoers (it is meant to be seen!)?
Why use a play structure as the format?
How do the ideas of “complementarity” and “uncertainty”
Speak to issues even beyond nuclear physics?

11. Who do you find more sympathetic as a character?
A.) Bohr
B.) Heisenberg
C.) Both Equally
D. Neither