Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Physics and chemistry
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Marie Curie is one of the most famous scientists in history and an important figure in general knowledge. She is widely known for her pioneering research on radioactivity and for being a multiple Nobel Prize winner. This question tests your precise knowledge of the subject categories in which she received her two Nobel Prizes.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Marie Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 for her work on radiation, shared with Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911 for the discovery of radium and polonium and the study of their properties. This makes Physics and Chemistry the correct pairing. She did not receive Nobel Prizes in medicine or peace.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the main areas of Curie's scientific work: radioactivity, discovery of new elements, and experimental physics.
Step 2: Associate early work on radioactivity with the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Step 3: Associate the later detailed chemical study and isolation of radium and polonium with the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Step 4: Select the option that lists Physics and chemistry together.
Verification / Alternative check:
You may remember that medical Nobel Prizes in physiology or medicine are generally awarded to researchers specifically in biological and medical sciences, and peace prizes are for peace efforts. Marie Curie was a physicist and chemist, not primarily a biologist or political figure, confirming that Physics and Chemistry is the logical and historical match.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Some learners know Marie Curie won two Nobel Prizes but forget the exact categories or mix them with later work done by other scientists in related fields. Fix this by remembering the sequence: Physics first for the discovery of radioactivity effects, Chemistry later for isolating and studying new elements like radium and polonium.
Final Answer:
Marie Curie received Nobel Prizes in Physics and in Chemistry.
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