Superconductivity is a property manifested by certain materials at very low temperatures. Metals and their alloys are known to be superconductors (e.g. tin, aluminum). Other materials that are also superconductors are ceramics which contain copper and oxygen atoms. Superconductors have a special property: they can conduct electricity without resistance, which means that there is no loss of energy. Once in motion, energy can flow forever through a closed loop of superconducting material. Superconductivity is the closest thing to perpetual motion. b) Superconductivity is related to quantum mechanics because for superconductors to work you have to put all the electrons in a single quantum state. This requires the electrons to be paired, to make the electrons a composite particle both electrons must have no spin or spin in the same direction. Quantum mechanics does not support this idea because electrons cannot have zero spin or rotate in the same direction. Additionally, it was impossible to explain electrical resistivity in terms of electron collisions because it was impossible to simultaneously measure the location and speed of an electron. This is why quantum mechanics could neither support nor explain superconductivity.2. A) Superconductors can only operate at extremely low temperatures. Low temperature superconductors operate at around 30K and high temperature superconductors operate at around 70K to 138K; these superconductors are almost always made of ceramic. In superconductors, electrons bond to each other in arrangements called copper pairs. The electrons in these copper pairs flow endlessly and without resistance. Temperature plays a vital role in superconductivity because in order...... middle of paper ......gzc-1OTI1ZzZ4h74. Charles Choi. Scientific American. (2008). Iron Exposed as a High Temperature Superconductor Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=iron-exposed-as-high-temp-superconductor5. Edmonds, M. and Gould, TA (October 25). How an MRI works. Accessed February 2011 from Discovery Health: http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/tests-treatment/mri.htm6. How strong are the magnets in an MRI machine? (August 9, 2001). Retrieved February 16, 2011 from HowStuffWorks: http://www.howstuffworks.com/question698.htm7. MAGLEV 2000. (January 1, 2001). Mach 3 Maglev. Retrieved February 16, 2011 from Maglev 2000: http//www.maglev2000.com/apps/apps-03.htm8. Shiel Jr, W.C. (October 25, 2008). Magnetic resonance imaging. Accessed February 16, 2011 from MedicineNet.com: http//www.medicinenet.com/mri_scan/article.htm