Why is the Sky Blue? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bluebonnet

In 1901 lupinus texensis, more commonly known as the Texas bluebonnet was chosen as the state flower for Texas. Fields of this beautiful blue wildflower once covered large portions of the eastern and northern parts of the state. At the turn of the century the plant had also been known as buffalo clover.

Answer: All oceans

The bluefish is a saltwater gamefish that is found in all the oceans of the world. These aggressive fish grow to 40 lbs and are known to eat sardines, squid, and shrimp. They are also cannibalistic. At one time overfishing threatened the bluefish, but restrictions enacted by governing agencies have helped the species population recover.

Answer: Thomas Gainsborough

"The Blue Boy" is probably the most famous portrait painted by Thomas Gainsborough, one of history's most prolific portrait painters. This large oil painting is of a young man dressed in a blue silk jacket and breeches. While some believe the painting to be that of Jonathon Buttall, the son of a wealthy merchant, this has never been proved.

The painting is displayed on the walls of the Huntington Library, in San Marino, California.

Answer: Baseball

For 17 years (1969-1986), Vida Blue was one of the toughest left-handed pitchers in the sport of baseball. This southpaw was a 6x All Star selection and a 3x World Series Champion. He is considered to be one of the hardest throwing left-handed pitchers to have played the game.

Answer: Bobby Vinton

These two songs were on Bobby Vinton's 6th album which was also named "Blue on Blue". Between 1962 and 1972 Bobby Vinton had more number 1 hits than any other singer including Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, who placed number 2 and 3, respectively. He also had a successful half hour variety show called, aptly enough, "The Bobby Vinton Show" which ran from 1975-1978.

Answer: Law enforcement

The documentary movie "The Thin Blue Line" dealt with the true story of a man wrongly convicted of the murder of a Dallas police officer. It also featured the dishonorable and possibly illegal actions taken by law enforcement and their efforts to convict him.

The term "The Thin Blue Line" is taken by many to mean the line that separates the population from those with the power to arrest and charge someone with a criminal offence.

Answer: Schooner

Launched in 1921, Bluenose was a racing schooner from Nova Scotia. While she was used for fishing her fame came from her speed. After her racing career was over she was used for transporting freight. In 1946 she foundered off the coast of Haiti and sank.

A cultural icon for Nova Scotia she was commemorated on a Canadian postage stamp in 1929 and 1982. Her image is on the licence plates in Nova Scotia. In 1937, her image was added to the back of the Canadian dime.

Answer: West Virginia

The picturesque Blue Ridge mountains are part of the Appalachian Mountain Range that runs up the east coast of the U.S. Starting in Georgia they run northward into Pennsylvania, passing through West Virginia as well as several other states. The Blue Ridge Mountains get their name from their bluish color when seen from a distance.

Answer: Toronto

The Toronto Blue Jays, founded in 1977, play Eastern division of the Major League Baseball's American League. They won the World Series in 1992 and 1993. Their first game was played on April 7th, 1977 against the Chicago White Sox in a minor snow storm, winning the messy affair by a score of 9-5.

Answer: False

The blue color of the sky is due to an effect called Rayleigh scattering. As light moves through our atmosphere, most of the longer wavelengths such as red, orange and yellow pass straight through. However, much of the shorter wavelength light such as blue, is absorbed by the molecules in the atmosphere.

It is then radiated in different directions getting scattered all around the sky. No matter which direction you look, some of this scattered blue light reaches your eyes. Because you see blue light from everywhere overhead, the sky looks blue.