By All Measures Trivia Quiz

Answer: Radioactivity

A Geiger counter is used to measure radiation. It is sometimes also known as the Geiger-Muller counter after the two people who invented it - Hans Geiger and Walther Muller. The Geiger-Muller tube was invented in 1928 which provided a practical method of measuring radioactivity. The instrument is used to detect ionizing radiation created by alpha or beta particles or gamma rays.

Answer: Atmospheric pressure

A barometer is used to measure air pressure or atmospheric pressure. It gets its name from the Greek words 'baros' meaning weight and 'metron' meaning measure. Italian physicist, Evangelista Torricelli, is widely credited with inventing the barometer in 1643. Torricelli was a student of Galileo and also gave his name to the Torr, a unit of pressure.

Answer: Angles

Theodolites have traditionally been used for land surveying. They are used to measure angles between the visible horizontal and vertical planes. In more recent times, theodolites are also used in the construction and infrastructure industries.

Answer: Temperature

A thermometer is used to measure temperature, named after the Greek word 'thermos' which means hot. Most people have one in their houses to measure body temperature when a person has fever. In the case of small children, it is especially important to monitor a fever and ensure adequate medical help is received if it does not abate.

Answer: Distance travelled

The odometer measures the distance travelled by a vehicle. Odo comes from the Greek word 'hodos' meaning path. While this may appear like a newer invention, usage of this instrument dates back to the ancient times where it was used in regions as diverse as Ancient China and Ancient Rome. Roman philosopher Pliny and Greek historian Strabo both have written accounts noting distances travelled and the accuracy of their figures indicates these were derived from a mechanical device.

Answer: Blood pressure

The sphygmomanometer was invented in 1881 by Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch. Basch was an Austrian-Jew who served as the personal physician of Mexican Emperor Maximilian I. The modern day version has undergone many improvements since then. At its most basic, the sphygmomanometer or blood pressure meter uses an inflatable cuff and a mercury manometer to measure the pressure.

Answer: Shoe size

The Brannock Device is named after its inventor, Charles F. Brannock. Brannock's family owned a shoe store in Syracuse, New York. He worked two years to create an instrument to measure the human foot. The first prototype was produced in 1925 and in 1927, he patented the improved version.

While there were other foot measuring devices already available, the Brannock Device was found to be superior and soon became the industry standard.

Answer: Length

A caliper is a handheld device used to measure dimensions of an object. It typically has a scale on the side for ease of measurement. Calipers are used widely in fields ranging from mechanical engineering to metalworking. The earliest known version of this tool dates back to the 6th BC when it was used by the Ancient Greeks.

Answer: Wind speed

Named after the Greek word 'anemos', meaning wind, the anemometer is used to measure wind speed and direction. It was invented by Italian polymath, Leon Battista Alberti in 1450. The instrument continues to be used widely in weather stations around the world.

Answer: Intensity of light

A luxmeter or light meter is used to measure the intensity or amount of light. The major use of this instrument is in photography and film making. Modern luxmeters are equipped with internal memory to record and save data on measurements.