News by Levels · Level 2 · For teachers
Teacher guide & answers
Physicists Test Whether Black Holes Could Split
How to use these two pages
Give learners the student worksheet. It contains the story and questions, without the answers. Keep this guide for yourself. Use it to lead the activity and explain the answers afterwards.
Student worksheetA simple 15–20-minute lesson
- Before reading · 2 minutes
Show the title. Ask: “What do you think this story is about?”
- Read and answer · 8–10 minutes
Give out the student worksheet. Learners read for the main idea, then reread to answer the 2 questions. They can compare answers with a partner.
- Discuss and write · 5–8 minutes
Check the answers below together. Ask learners to point to the clue in the story, then finish with the open question.
Adjust the support: Let learners use word help or Level 1 if needed. For a challenge, compare the wording in another level. This activity is not a proficiency test.
Answers to the 2 questions
The question numbers match the student worksheet. Each answer includes a reason and the clue learners can find in the story.
What was the method?
Correct answer: C — Calculations
Why: This was theoretical work.
Clue in the story: A new theoretical study examines conditions under which a black hole might divide. Physical Review D published the paper on October 22; the University of Southern Denmark explained it the following day.
What must fragments do?
Correct answer: A — Separate
Why: They must move apart.
Clue in the story: Ordinary non-spinning black holes face a thermodynamic barrier. Rapid rotation may leave a narrow opening, but the resulting objects must also separate. The calculations do not demonstrate an observed split.
The open question: accept different answers
Ask learners: Explain the finding and its limit.
One possible answer: Theoretical possibilities do not establish an observed split.
This is an example, not the only correct answer. Look for a relevant idea, a reason and the learner’s own words. Learners can answer aloud or write one or two sentences.