Stop at the Red Light Trivia Quiz

Answer: The signal is about to change to green

In many places, traffic controllers have inserted a red-yellow combination light to let drivers know that they will have a green light shortly. In theory, this reduces the number of drivers incorrectly anticipating the change and leaping into the intersection prematurely. In practice, those eager beavers often still hit the accelerator early.

Answer: Longest wavelength

The human eye perceives electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between (roughly, individuals vary somewhat) 300 and 750 nm. (A nanometer is a millionth of a millimeter - don't try to measure it with your tape measure.) We traditionally assign color names to different parts of the spectrum, but there is actually no sharp boundary - it is a continuous spectrum. Assigning exact numbers to where one color name is applied and another starts is arbitrary. Red is usually used to describe wavelengths between 630 and 750 nm. Longer wavelengths than that are referred to as infrared (below red, since their frequencies are lower than that of red light). Similarly, wavelengths shorter than 300 nm are called ultraviolet (beyond violet).

A number of animals (mostly insects) can see electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet region. Most of these, however, do not perceive the red frequencies which we do. A few animals can detect some infrared light, with wavelengths longer than the light we can 'see'.

Answer: A Gideons Bible

Johnny Thomo, George Raft's character, arrives at his brother's room to find that he has been shot, and is dying. A somewhat vague communication about the Bible found in many hotel rooms thanks to the Gideon Society leads Johnny to believe that it has the murderer's name recorded inside it. After much convoluted searching, Johnny finds the Bible, but discovers that it contains a pleas from his brother (who was a priest) not to seek revenge. Don't worry, the universe intervenes and ensures that the guilty party receives his just reward.

According to the site where the image in the question was found, it shows the "Bible [that] was used to swear in witnesses at a Court of Inquiry, held at the Washington Navy Yard on October 29th 1901. The Court of Inquiry was convened to investigate Rear Admiral Winfred Scott Schley's leadership at the Battle of Santiago. Admiral George Dewey was the President of the Court of Inquiry. Signatures of all the participants are located on the interior of the front page of the bible".

Answer: Goalie

He was indeed a goalie, and unfortunate enough to be minding the net in a game which the Montreal Canadiens lost to the New York Rangers10-5 in 1992. He was not the first player to be given this nickname by the sporting press - Ken Wregget was the first recipient of the sobriquet. Racicot played for the Canadiens from 1989 until 1993, finishing his career with stints in other hockey leagues, including a year in Russia, before retiring in 2004.

Answer: Psychic phenomena

Sigourney Weaver plays a psychology professor and paranormal investigator whose assistant (Tom Buckley, portrayed by Cillian Murphy) is a physicist determined to expose Silver as a fraud. Weaver's character, Margaret Matheson, has had previous encounters with Silver, and is more cautious in her approach.

There are deaths, there are revelations, but is there something more? Watch the movie to find out.

Answer: Photographic papers were not sensitive to red light

Most papers used for printing black and white photographs were coated in chemicals that were sensitive to blue or green light. They were not affected by red light (or, in many cases, yellow light, sometimes used). While film still had to be kept in the dark until it had been developed, it was possible to have light in the room for the printing stage, which allowed the photographer to see what was going on and control the process. It should be noted that the papers were not totally insensitive to red light, and would deteriorate under prolonged exposure; but in the context of developing pictures, the white light from the enlarger directed on the field of action would have a far more rapid impact than the background red light.

Color photography, of course, cannot be carried out with a red light, since the paper is sensitive to all frequencies in the visible spectrum. And in this digital age, the whole concept of the darkroom is becoming a piece of interesting history for most photographers.

Answer: New York

Did you recognize the Empire State building? Red Light Lizzie and Jane the Grabber were rivals in the 1860s and 1870s for control of New York City's prostitution trade. Both women were known to drug young women, many from wealthy families, then force them to work in their brothels - Lizzie had at least twelve!

Answer: His lover told him their relationship was over

'Red Light' was one of three singles from David Nail's first album, 'I'm About to Come Alive', released in 2009. The singer can't quite cope with the fact that such a momentous event in his life happened in such a mundane setting. As he says in the song's chorus,

"At a red light in the sunshine
On a Sunday
Nothin' to say
Don't even try."

Answer: Train

Simenon's novel was set, unusually for him, in 1950s America. The couple separate after squabbling over his insistence on stopping for a drink at regular intervals. During one stop, the wife leaves him to continue her journey by train. There is an escaped convict in the area (of course), and the vacation never really gets off the ground.

The book was adapted into a movie in 2004, for which the setting was changed to France in the 21st century.

Answer: Statues

In this game, one person is 'It', and either covers their eyes or turns their back on the other players, who start lined up at the far end of the playing space. While 'It' has his/her eyes averted, the others try to run up as far as they can. When 'It' turns around and calls out 'Red Light' (or the appropriate term in another form of the game), the children must freeze and stay motionless as long as 'It' is looking at them. Anyone who moves is out, and retires. The process is repeated until one of the runners reaches 'It', and becomes the new 'It'. There are many variants!

The photo used for this question shows Wilbur Wright circling the Statue of Liberty in 1909.