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Fred Lawrence Whipple Trivia Quiz

Fred Lawrence Whipple was the son of a farmer. He was born in Red Oak, Iowa, on November 5, 1906. He died on August 30, 2004. He was a famous American astronomer. Take the quiz to learn more about him.

A multiple-choice quiz by almach. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
almach

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
254,538

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
212

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Early in life, Fred Whipple had polio. In which sport did this disease stop him from achieving his ambition? Hint

baseball player

tennis player

football player

golfer

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Question 2 of 10

2. Fred Whipple graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Ph.D in Astronomy in 1931.

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. Fred Whipple helped determine the orbit of ______ . Hint

Vesta

Ceres

Pluto

Pallas

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Question 4 of 10

4. In 1950, he proposed that comets contain icy gases, with a mixture of other materials.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. What did Fred Whipple co-develop during World War II? Hint

chaff

the M16 rifle

armor piercing bullets

had nothing to do with WW2

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Question 6 of 10

6. Did Fred Whipple ever discover a comet?

Yes

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Question 7 of 10

7. In 1987, what was Fred Whipple awarded? Hint

J. Lawrence Smith Award

Henry Norris Russell Award

Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society

Distinguished Federal Civilian Service Award

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Question 8 of 10

8. Fred Whipple discovered an asteroid, 1252 Celestia on February 19, 1933. Who did he name the asteroid after? Hint

his mother

his youngest daughter

his oldest daughter

his wife

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Question 9 of 10

9. Does Fred Whipple have a minor planet named after him?

Yes

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Question 10 of 10

10. Late in life, Fred Whipple worked on which ill-fated mission? Hint

CONTOUR

Apollo 18

Apollo 13

Challenger

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Early in life, Fred Whipple had polio. In which sport did this disease stop him from achieving his ambition?

Answer: tennis player

Polio was virtually eliminated in the U.S. by 1979, and in the western hemisphere by 1991.

2. Fred Whipple graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Ph.D in Astronomy in 1931.

Answer: True

He had already completed his earlier studies at Occidental College in Southern California.

3. Fred Whipple helped determine the orbit of ______ .

Answer: Pluto

He was still a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. Ceres, Pallas and Vesta are all asteroids that orbit between Mars and Jupiter.

4. In 1950, he proposed that comets contain icy gases, with a mixture of other materials.

Answer: True

This was to become known as the "dirty snowball" hypothesis. The mission to Halley's Comet in 1986 confirmed his hypothesis.

5. What did Fred Whipple co-develop during World War II?

Answer: chaff

Chaff are aluminum fragments that foiled enemy radar. He later invented the "Whipple Shield", which protects manned and unmanned spacecraft from small particles in space.

6. Did Fred Whipple ever discover a comet?

Answer: Yes

Fred Whipple discovered the periodic comet 36P/Whipple on October 15, 1933. Comets are named after the discoverer. Fred Whipple also discovered or co-discovered five other comets.

7. In 1987, what was Fred Whipple awarded?

Answer: Henry Norris Russell Award

He was awarded all of these medals. It was in 1987 from the American Astronomical Society. In 1949 he was awared the J. Lawrence Smith Award by the National Academy of Sciences. In 1983, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. In 1963 he was awarded the Distinguished Federal Civilian Service Award by President John F. Kennedy.

8. Fred Whipple discovered an asteroid, 1252 Celestia on February 19, 1933. Who did he name the asteroid after?

Answer: his mother

His mother's name was Dorothy Woods Whipple and the asteroid was named in her honor. The person who discovers an asteroid gets to name it, except after themself.

9. Does Fred Whipple have a minor planet named after him?

Answer: Yes

Minor planet 1940 Whipple was named after him in 1975.

10. Late in life, Fred Whipple worked on which ill-fated mission?

Answer: CONTOUR

The COmet Nucleus TOUR (CONTOUR) mission was to photograph a particular comet's nucleus, analyze the composition of the gases and to map the rock and ice of the comet. The mission failed shortly after launch.

Source: Author almach

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