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Velcro: It's Got Staying Power! Quiz

Here's a little quiz about one of the simplest yet most useful inventions of the 20th century. (Don't worry: The questions won't be too sticky!)

A multiple-choice quiz by jukaswo. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
jukaswo

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
291,045

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
754

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Question 1 of 10

1. Before Velcro, there were many useful fasteners. An American engineer, Whitcomb L. Judson, invented which of these? Hint

Safety Pin

Zipper

Button

Snap

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Question 2 of 10

2. Like the zipper, Velcro was also invented by an engineer. His name was George de Mestral, and in 1948 he made a discovery that eventually led to the creation of Velcro. He was from which European country? Hint

Switzerland

Belgium

France

England

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Question 3 of 10

3. The idea for what we now know as Velcro came about when George observed which of these events? Hint

grass burrs sticking to his pants and socks

squirrels climbing trees in a grove

ivy growing on the wall of his home

getting pricked by cactus needles on a visit to Arizona

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Question 4 of 10

4. George originally wanted to call his new invention "locking tape." In 1951 he was granted a patent for his product, and it was at that time that he named it "Velcro." How did he come up with the name? Hint

It's derived from the French words "velours" and "crochet."

It's a combination of his parents' names: Velda and Cronan.

His daughter described one side as "velvety" and the other as "crotchety."

It stands for the name of the textile plant which produced the first samples: The Havel-Crooker Fabric Co.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Velcro, as we know it, consists of two sides which adhere to each other. What are the names of these two sides? Hint

Hook and Loop

Snag and Loop

Hook and Crook

Snag and Crook

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Question 6 of 10

6. The first U.S. plant, American Velcro, Inc., opened in 1957 in which state? Hint

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Georgia

Missouri

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. In 1984, which late night TV host donned a Velcro suit and launched himself/herself onto a Velcro wall? Hint

Arsenio Hall

David Letterman

Johnny Carson

Joan Rivers

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. In 1989, NASA banned the use of Velcro on space shuttles.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. In 1990, When President George H.W. Bush was in office, the White House staff coined the word "velcrosis" because people swarmed around the President (i.e., "stuck" to him) whenever he made public appearances.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. George de Mestral invented some other objects in addition to Velcro. Which of these is not one of his ideas? Hint

Galoshes

Toy plane

Hygrometer

Asparagus peeler

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Before Velcro, there were many useful fasteners. An American engineer, Whitcomb L. Judson, invented which of these?

Answer: Zipper

Judson designed the first zipper in the 1920's.

Answer: Switzerland

George de Mestral was born outside of Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1908.

3. The idea for what we now know as Velcro came about when George observed which of these events?

Answer: grass burrs sticking to his pants and socks

Mr. de Mestral was on a hunting trip in the Alps, and noticed small grass burrs stuck to his wool pants and socks. He took the burrs home and examined them under a microscope. He observed that the tiny hooks on each burr were attached to the loops in the wool.

Answer: It's derived from the French words "velours" and "crochet."

George came up with the name "Velcro" when he got his patent, and, in 1952, began a company called Velcro S.A. in Switzerland.

5. Velcro, as we know it, consists of two sides which adhere to each other. What are the names of these two sides?

Answer: Hook and Loop

Cotton was the first material that was used to make the product, but it was too expensive, so de Mestral tried other fabrics. It took him eight years to finally develop a good design. He accidentally discovered that if nylon is placed under infrared light it forms rigid hooks.

He subsequently developed a two-sided fastener in which one side had stiff "hooks" and the other side had soft "loops" (like the burrs and fabric, respectively.) Velcro is no longer made of nylon; the plastic that is used today was developed in the U.S. in 1967.

6. The first U.S. plant, American Velcro, Inc., opened in 1957 in which state?

Answer: New Hampshire

American Velcro, Inc., was established in Manchester, NH. The town was home to many textile workers.

7. In 1984, which late night TV host donned a Velcro suit and launched himself/herself onto a Velcro wall?

Answer: David Letterman

Letterman did this on the air on Feb. 28, 1984. Wearing a suit covered in "hooks," he jumped onto a trampoline and propelled himself onto a wall covered in "loops," to which he stuck. Since then, many have imitated this stunt, and now there are even companies which sell Velcro suit & wall sets!

8. In 1989, NASA banned the use of Velcro on space shuttles.

Answer: False

NASA astronauts have used Velcro in space to attach equipment, trays, food packages, etc., to solid surfaces, so that these things would not fly away in the weightless environment. (They've sometimes used Velcro to stick themselves to surfaces!)

Answer: True

Interestingly, Bush's predecessor, Ronald Reagan, also had a nickname derived from a 20th century invention: Teflon. He was called "The Teflon President" by some members of the media who felt that, no matter what he or his administration did wrong, Reagan managed to never get blamed for anything (i.e., nothing "stuck" to him, much like Teflon). So, based on the nicknames, nothing stuck to Reagan but everything stuck to Bush!

10. George de Mestral invented some other objects in addition to Velcro. Which of these is not one of his ideas?

Answer: Galoshes

When George was 12 years-old, he received a patent for a toy plane. He later designed an instrument called a hygrometer, which measured air humidity. Finally, he developed an asparagus peeler, much like those seen late-night TV ads in the present!

Source: Author jukaswo

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ertrum before going online.
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