World Book Trivia Challenge Advanced--12/31--time
Questions and Answers
- 1.
What is not a system of timekeeping?
- A.
Solar time
- B.
Sidereal time
- C.
Artificial time
Correct Answer
C. Artificial timeExplanation
The use of the day as a basic unit of time gave rise to two slightly different systems of timekeeping. These systems are: (1) solar time and (2) sidereal time.Rate this question:
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- 2.
The basic water clock, used 3,500 year ago, was accurate about how often?
- A.
30 minutes each day
- B.
1 hour each day
- C.
5 hours each day
Correct Answer
A. 30 minutes each dayExplanation
The water clock, used as early as 3,500 years ago, consisted of a container that water flowed into or out of at a steady rate. People measured time by comparing the changing water level to marks on the container. Simpler clocks for everyday use included candles marked at regular lengths and oil lamps with marked reservoirs. As the candle burned down or the oil burned away, the marks indicated how much time had passed. Most of these clocks probably remained accurate only to about half an hour per day at best.Rate this question:
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- 3.
What is a way to measure how long ago an organism died?
- A.
Radioactive decay
- B.
Artificial clock
- C.
Atomic clock
Correct Answer
A. Radioactive decayExplanation
Atoms of a radioactive element decay (break down) into atoms of another element. Because this decay occurs at a known rate, scientists can sometimes determine how old a sample is by measuring the amount of radioactive material it contains.
For example, some of the carbon in living things is a radioactive isotope (form) called carbon-14. Carbon-14 decays into nitrogen at a known rate, but living things constantly replenish the carbon 14 in their bodies. When an organism dies, it stops taking in new carbon-14. Thus, by analyzing the amount of carbon-14 left in a sample, scientists can often estimate how long ago an organismRate this question:
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- 4.
What is the abbreviation for coordinated universal time, which serves as the standard international time?
- A.
CUT
- B.
UTC
- C.
CT
Correct Answer
B. UTCExplanation
Coordinated Universal Time, abbreviated UTC, serves as the standard international time. By definition, UTC is the time at the prime meridian as measured by atomic clocks. Other time zones derive their time by adding or subtracting a whole number of hours to UTC.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Which theory overturned Isaac Newton's properties that he assigned to time?
- A.
The Copenhagen Interpretation
- B.
The Many Worlds Theory
- C.
Relativity Theory
Correct Answer
C. Relativity TheoryExplanation
In the early 1900’s, the German-born physicist Albert Einstein developed a new branch of physics called relativity theory. His work revised many basic ideas about time. Perhaps most importantly, relativity theory holds that space and time are not fundamentally separate features of reality. Relativity theory overturned Newton’s assumptions.Rate this question:
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- 6.
What belief stems from the "arrow of change"?
- A.
Time travel is possible.
- B.
We can change the future, not the past.
- C.
We can change the past, not the future.
Correct Answer
B. We can change the future, not the past.Explanation
We tend to believe that we can change the future but not the past. This distinction is sometimes called the arrow of change.Rate this question:
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- 7.
What does "p.m" stand for?
- A.
Past meridiem
- B.
Post meridiem
- C.
Post midnight
Correct Answer
B. Post meridiemExplanation
Using noon as the midpoint of the day gives us the letters a.m., meaning ante (before) meridiem, or before noon; p.m. means post (after) meridiem, or after noon.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Of the following, what can a minute NOT be measure in?
- A.
Feet
- B.
Angles
- C.
Time
Correct Answer
A. FeetExplanation
Minute is a unit that is used to measure both time and angles. In time, 60 minutes make up one hour. Each minute is divided into 60 seconds. Because an hour is 1/24 of a day, a minute is 1/1,440 of a day. In measuring angles, 60 minutes make up one degree. A circle is divided into 360 degrees, and so one minute is 1/21,600 of a circle. Each minute of an angle is divided into 60 seconds.Rate this question:
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- 9.
The first time capsule, which was buried in 1938 at the New York World's Fair, is schedule to be opened in ______?
- A.
3038
- B.
4500
- C.
6939
Correct Answer
C. 6939Explanation
The phrase time capsule first described a container buried by the Westinghouse company in 1938 at the New York World's Fair. It was scheduled to be opened in 6939. The phrase may also refer to an object or archaeological site that vividly represents the pastRate this question:
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- 10.
Before Daylight Savings Time was officially put in place, which time saving plan was adopted from the United Kingdom in 1918 and repealed a year later?
- A.
Seasonal Time
- B.
Summer Time
- C.
Super Time
Correct Answer
B. Summer TimeExplanation
The United Kingom, for example, went on daylight time or what it calls "Summer Time" during World War I (1914-1918). The United States adopted the plan in 1918 but repealed it in 1919. The United States also observed it from Feb. 9, 1942, to Sept. 30, 1945, due to World War IIRate this question:
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