Science Trivia Jeopardy

Biology

100

It is the most common element in the human body... A: Carbon, B: Hydrogen, C: Oxygen, D: Calcium

What is C. Oxygen. It makes up almost 63% of the average human. Following, are major elements and the percentages of the human body that they represent: Oxygen- 62.81% Carbon- 19.37% Hydrogen- 9.31% Nitrogen- 5.14% Sulfur- 0.64% Phosphorus- 0.63% Other- 2.10%

200

This living animal has the heaviest brain... A: African Bush Elephant, B: Black Rhinoceros, C: Sperm Whale, D: Human

What is C. Sperm Whales. They have the heaviest brain of any living animal. The average Sperm Whale's brain weighs more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms) which is about 4 times heavier than the average human brain.

300

Of the following, it has the longest recorded life span. A: Termite, B: Chimpanzee, C: Indian Elephant, D: Freshwater Oyster

What is the Freshwater Oyster (80 years.) The longest recorded life span for a termite is 50 years; for a chimapanzee, 50 years; and for an Indian elephant, 70 years.

400

This was the first genetically engineered organism. A: Corn, B: Tobacco, C: Sheep, D: Rat

What is a B. tobacco plant. In 1983, a tobacco plant, designed to be resistant to certain herbicides, was grown in Wisconsin.

500

This animal has the highest blood pressure... A: Giraffe, B: Blue Whale, C: Elephant, D: Flea

What is A: Giraffe. Because of its extremely long neck, the giraffe must rely on its oversized heart (two feet long and twenty-five pounds!) to pump blood all the way to its head. As a result, the giraffe has the highest blood pressure of any animal: 280/180 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) at heart level when prone -- more than twice the blood pressure of an average human. Not surprisingly, because of their high blood pressure, giraffes are prone to heart attacks.

Astronomy

100

These are the only two planets in our solar system without moons... A: Mercury & Venus, B: Venus & Mars, C: Uranus & Neptune, D: Neptune & Pluto

What is A: Mercury & Venus. As far as we know, Saturn has the most moons. Saturn has at least 25 satellites that measure at least 6 miles (10 kilometers) in diameter, and several smaller satellites. The largest of Saturn's satellites, Titan, has a diameter of about 3,200 miles (5,150 kilometers) -- larger than the planets Mercury and Pluto.

200

This year boasted the first woman in space... A: 1963, B: 1968, C: 1973, D: 1983

What is A. 1963. The first woman in space was Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova in Vostok 6 (U.S.S.R.).

300

The three main parts of a comet are the nucleus, the tail, and the _____. A: Zenith, B: Umbra, C: Radiant, D: Coma

What is D. Coma. The coma consists of gases and dust around the nucleus.

400

It is the term for the condition when three celestial bodies are arranged in a straight line... A: Occultation, B: Parallax, C: Syzygy, D: Triple Transit

What is C: Syzygy. Syzygy is the condition when three celestial bodies are arranged in a straight line--as, for example, when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned during solar and lunar eclipses.

500

The planets make up this percentage of the mass in our solar system... A: 0.0135 %, B: 0.135 %, C: 1.35 %, D: 13.5 %

What is B: 0.135 % of the mass in our solar system. The Sun dominates, accounting for 99.86 % of the entire solar system's mass.

Chemistry

100

This type of matter has a definite volume but no definite shape... A: Solids, B: Liquids, C: Gases, D: Plasma

What is B: Liquids. Liquids have a definite volume but no definite shape. Because the intermolecular forces are weak in a liquid, it is able to change its shape to conform to its container.

200

This English chemist and physicist discovered hydrogen. A: Sir William Crookes, B: Henry Cavendish, C: Dorothy Hodgkin, D: Bernard Shaw

Who is B: Henry Cavendish. This English chemist and physicist not only discovered hydrogen, but also determined the mass of the Earth.

300

Matter that does not enter chemical reactions is described as this... A: Inhibited, B: Inert, C: Grounded, D: Radioactive

What is B: Inert. Inert matter does not enter chemical reactions.

400

These substances control the rates of chemical reactions... A: Reactants, B: Catalysts, C: Isotopes, D: Cathodes

What is B: Catalysts. Catalysts are substances that control the rates of chemical reactions.

500

These are microscopic spheres of 60 atoms of pure carbon in a spherelike structure that resembles a geodesic dome... A: Hydrocarbons, B: Lipids, C: Crystals, D: Buckyballs

What is D: Buckyballs. "Buckyballs" are microscopic spheres of 60 atoms of pure carbon in a spherelike structure that resembles a geodosic dome. Also called fullerenes or buckminsterfullerenes, they were named after R. Buckminster Fuller who invented the geodosic dome. Buckyballs are of great interest to scientists because they contain a cavity large enough to hold other elements, even whole molecules. Once an element has been deposited into the cavity, it cannot emerge without being heated to high temperatures. This technology may someday be used to deliver medication to specific locations within the body.

Geology

100

This geologic formation may be found overhead if you are in a cave... A: stalactites B: stalagmites C: mightymites D: termites

What is A: stalactites. The ones growing downward are stalactites, the ones growing upward are stalagmites. Stalactites are formed by the deposition of calcium carbonate and other minerals, which is precipitated from mineralized water solutions.

200

This type of water weighs the most... A: seawater B: distilled water C: tap water D: none - They all have the same weight.

What is A: sea water. It is loaded with mineral salts and weighs about a pound and a half more per cubic foot than fresh water at the same temperature.

300

This is the hardest naturally occurring substance... A: emerald B: tourmaline C: diamond D: corrundum

What is C: Diamond. Diamond is also one of the most valuable natural substances. Diamonds are crystals formed almost entirely of carbon. Because of its hardness, the diamond is the most enduring of all gemstones. They are among the most costly jewels in the world, partly because they are rare, Only four important diamond fields have been found - in Africa, South America, India, and the Soviet Union.

400

The largest hailstone recorded was closest to this object in diameter... A: basketball B: softball C: tennis ball D: golf ball

What is A: basketball. The largest hailstone ever recorded was 17.5 inches in diameter - bigger than a basketball.

500

The first Earth Day was celebrated in this year... A: 1950 B: 1960 C: 1970 D: 1980

What is C: 1970. The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970, and has been celebrated each year following on April 22nd. The original purpose of Earth Day was to inspire people to think and act more environmentally. Earth Day falls on or around the birthdays of several environmental spokespersons.