Greg's Science Trivia Quiz
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- 1.
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Artistic depictions of the sun usually have rays emanating from a round disk. Why is the sun often drawn this way?- A.
It's only an abstract symbol for the sun.
- B.
You think that you see rays from the sun because your eye is not a perfect camera.
- C.
You can see light rays that travel sideways if they are very bright.
- D.
It's the solar corona: Jets of hot gas that shoot out from the sun.
- E.
The earth's atmosphere bends sunlight and makes radial streaks.
- 2.
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Which time-keeping device is the most similar to a musician's tuning fork?- A.
An atomic clock
- B.
A pendulum clock
- C.
A wind-up mechanical clock or watch
- D.
A quartz crystal clock or watch
- E.
A sundial
- 3.
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Suppose that you have a hot mound of mashed potatoes in the shape of a large circle about two inches thick. How much faster will it cool if you flatten the mound to double its area and make it once inch thick? (You can ignore effects at the edge of the mound.)- A.
About the same.
- B.
About 50% faster.
- C.
About twice as fast.
- D.
About 4 times as fast.
- E.
Completely unpredictable, based on other factors.
- 4.
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What is the typical color of modern circuitry drawn on silicon chips?- A.
Metallic gray
- B.
Sandy yellow
- C.
Multicolored
- D.
It is too small to have any color.
- E.
You can choose the color.
- 5.
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What is the central mathematical result about democracy in the theory of voting?- A.
Voters must be fully informed in order for democracy to work.
- B.
Ranked voting is fairer than just voting for one candidate.
- C.
Gerrymandering distorts democracy.
- D.
Party politics makes democracy less fair.
- E.
Democracy is a mathematically inconsistent concept.
- 6.
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Suppose that you have $100,000 in savings, and otherwise your expenses equal your salary. Every month, you discover a business opportunity that has a 1 in 200 chance of quickly multiplying your investment by 500; but otherwise the investment will come to nothing. You decide to invest 2% of your total cash savings in each new venture each month. What will probably happen in the long run?- A.
Your savings will dwindle to nothing, because the expected return is negative.
- B.
You will eventually make a big profit, because the expected return is positive.
- C.
Your savings will dwindle to nothing, even though the expected return is positive.
- D.
You will eventually make a big profit, even though the expected return is negative.
- E.
It's impossible to say; it depends on how lucky you are.
- 7.
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Carbon 14 is a radioactive isotope that is used to estimate the age of objects such as ancient books, ancient graves, etc. Where does it come from? Why would the Earth still have any?- A.
It is generated by the cells of living organisms.
- B.
It is generated in the Earth's core from other radioactive processes.
- C.
It is generated in the atmosphere by cosmic rays.
- D.
Its half life is long enough that the Earth still has some of the original supply.
- E.
It doesn't start to decay until objects are buried.
- 8.
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"Medical marijuana" is a new legal concept in some states in the US. Which of the following is a difference between marijuana and all FDA-approved prescription and over-the-counter medicines?- A.
Marijuana has cannabinoids as its active ingredients.
- B.
Marijuana is smoked.
- C.
Marijuana is a natural remedy.
- D.
Marijuana can also be used recreationally.
- E.
All of the above.
- 9.
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When you lose weight in a year-long diet, what is the essential way that it leaves?- A.
When you go to the bathroom.
- B.
By sweating and evaporation.
- C.
You exhale it.
- D.
All of the above.
- E.
It just shrinks.
- 10.
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Even-toed ungulates are hoofed animals with even number of toes such as pigs, deer, cattle, etc. Which of the following animals are even-toed ungulates in the evolutionary tree, but are not called that?- A.
Elephants
- B.
Giraffes
- C.
Hippos
- D.
Humans
- E.
Whales
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