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Quiz about Australian Scientific Inventions

Australian Scientific Inventions Quiz

While most people know that the black box flight recorder was invented in Australia, how much do you know about other famous inventions that Australia can lay claim to? 'A regular bloke with a simple idea' from hills.com.au sums it all up.

A multiple-choice quiz by Exit10. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Exit10

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
83,486

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1473

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Found in backyards and gardens all over the world, what item has become synonymous with one of Australia's most famous inventions? Hint

rotary clothes line

terracotta flower pots

crazy paving

blood and bone fertilizer

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Question 2 of 10

2. What humble item that we all use every day had its origins in Launceston, Tasmania? Hint

prototype of the 'Chux' reusable wipe

paper cup

notepad

coat-hanger clips for skirts and trousers

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. What was another aircraft invention to come from Australia, apart from the black box flight recorder? Hint

drop down oxygen masks

inflatable aircraft escape slide

in-flight videos

the fast forward air controller

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Australians like their wines. The invention of the flexible wine cask bladder (cardboard cask) came from which wine growing region? Hint

Barossa Valley

Yarra Valley

Margaret River

Hunter Valley

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Question 5 of 10

5. At which tennis event was the first 'electronic line call' trialled? Hint

1991 US Open Championships

1992 Wimbledon

1992 Australian Open

1993 French Open

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Question 6 of 10

6. The world's first feature length film was called 'The Story of the Kelly Gang'. In what year was it released? Hint

1906

1911

1895

1915

7. The furniture castor is an item we all take for granted, yet it is another invention by a regular bloke with a simple idea. What was the occupation of George Shepherd, the man who invented it? Hint

furniture manufacturer

none, he was on a disability pension

orthopaedic specialist

engineer for an oil company

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. In 1957, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) patented a world first in the field of clothing. What was it? Hint

pantyhose

a sewing machine overlocker

trousers with a permanent crease

an anti-static dry cleaning fluid

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which Nobel Prize winner was responsible for the development of penicillin? Hint

Sir Frank Mcfarlane Burnett

Peter Doherty

Sir John Cornforth

Sir Howard Florey

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Question 10 of 10

10. In 1979, engineer Geoff Healey developed a fixed lightweight mini camera that could be used to view live close-up action of various sports. Which came first? Hint

snow cam

stump cam

race cam

slam cam

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Found in backyards and gardens all over the world, what item has become synonymous with one of Australia's most famous inventions?

Answer: rotary clothes line

The Hills Hoist clothes line as we know it, was developed by Lance Hill and his brother-in-law Harold Ling in 1946. Other products that they developed were the TV antennae and children's play equipment. However, the idea wasn't new. It was invented in the U.S. in 1890 but it was very expensive. An Australian patent was granted for the winding mechanism.

2. What humble item that we all use every day had its origins in Launceston, Tasmania?

Answer: notepad

The world's first notepad was designed by JA Birchall in 1902. He put some single sheets of paper together, backed by cardboard and glued one end. Up until that time paper had only been sold in single sheets. They were called 'Silver City Writing Tablets' and were sold at his stationery shop.

Incidentally, that shop also sold books and is the oldest book shop in Australia. Again, another example of a regular bloke with a simple idea.

3. What was another aircraft invention to come from Australia, apart from the black box flight recorder?

Answer: inflatable aircraft escape slide

These aircraft slides were invented in 1965 by Jack Grant who worked for QANTAS. They are used by most major airlines worldwide and can be converted to a raft.

4. Australians like their wines. The invention of the flexible wine cask bladder (cardboard cask) came from which wine growing region?

Answer: Barossa Valley

This was an invention of the Angoves, a successful wine growing family in the area. Bags of wine were sealed and placed in a cardboard box. Further on in 1967, Penfold's, another winery, patented a plastic tap that enabled easier dispensation of the wine from the box.

5. At which tennis event was the first 'electronic line call' trialled?

Answer: 1991 US Open Championships

Although a laser system for service line calls was in existence, Dr John Baxter, Dr Bruce Candy and Brian Williams came up with this development. It is manufactured by TEL Pty Ltd.(Tennis Electronic Lines), and determines close call balls on all of the lines in the court. Together with an antenna under the surface of the court, some powder on the ball and lots of whizz-bang gadgetry, the computer can determine whether the ball is in or out.

It is supposed to be five times better than the human eye.

6. The world's first feature length film was called 'The Story of the Kelly Gang'. In what year was it released?

Answer: 1906

Ned was only hung 18 years prior to the film being released and emotion was still running high. The film, which lasted just over an hour, was banned in north-east Victoria, the area that he came from.

7. The furniture castor is an item we all take for granted, yet it is another invention by a regular bloke with a simple idea. What was the occupation of George Shepherd, the man who invented it?

Answer: engineer for an oil company

The patent for this innovation was issued in 1947. In 1984, Roland Wagner from Germany further developed the castor to a standard size known as the 'Wagner Norm-System'.

8. In 1957, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) patented a world first in the field of clothing. What was it?

Answer: trousers with a permanent crease

They were called 'Si-Ro-Set'. Generally the nickname given to the C.S.I.R.O. especially by the research scientists is Siro.

9. Which Nobel Prize winner was responsible for the development of penicillin?

Answer: Sir Howard Florey

Florey won the award in 1945. Mcfarlane Burnett won the award in 1960 for the discovery of 'acquired immunological tolerance', the basis for organ transplants.

10. In 1979, engineer Geoff Healey developed a fixed lightweight mini camera that could be used to view live close-up action of various sports. Which came first?

Answer: race cam

It was first used for car racing and quickly followed suit with a camera attached to a cricket stump.

Source: Author Exit10

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