Who? What? When? Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

The first modern electric air conditioner (commonly referred to as AC) was invented in 1902 by Willis Carrier in Syracuse, New York. Willis Carrier was an American engineer and inventor whose AC invention controlled temperature and humidity. Air conditioing became particularly popular from the 1950s onwards.

Answer: John Froehlich

At the age of 43, John Froehlich, an American, invented the first tractor. This tractor ran on gasoline and could both move forward and reverse. It was a 16 horsepower tractor.

Answer: Cecil Booth

In 1901, English engineer, Cecil Booth came up with the idea of a device to remove dust using suction. He tested the idea by sucking in a handkerchief over a dusty chair and saw that the dust collected on the handkerchief. He patented the first vacuum cleaner, the "Puffing Billy", later that year, using a petrol burning internal-combustion engine to power the suction.

It was so big that it had to be pulled from house to house by a horse-drawn cart!

Answer: 1973

The early mobile phones were known as car phones, as they were designed to be used in cars. The first handheld cell or mobile phone was developed in 1973 by the American, Martin Cooper, working for Motorola. Both he and the corporation soon embarked on the development of the second generation of cell phones.

Answer: Radio transmitter

The Italian electrical engineer, Guglielmo Marconi, combined the ideas of other inventions to build the first successful radio transmitter in 1896. This radio transmitter served as the foundation for the establishment of numerous affiliated companies worldwide.

Answer: Television

This person invented television but unfortunately, his mechanical television gave people headaches. So, the Russian born engineer Isaac Shoenberg came up with a better electronic system in 1936. However, Philo Farnsworth was the person who invented the first fully functional all-electronic image pickup device (video camera tube). He only had made the functional and complete television system. However, it was John Logie Baird who had come up with the idea and made a device though it failed to satisfy the people.

Answer: Charles Babbage

Charles Babbage, an English mathematician, philosopher, inventor, and mechanical engineer, originated the concept of a programmable computer. Later, his invention was used by other inventors to make better versions of computers. Parts of his designs are now on display in the London Science Museum.

Answer: Joseph Niepce

Joseph (a Frenchman), had fixed a metal plate coated with light sensitive chemicals inside a box that let in no light except through a lens in front. Eight hours later, an image of the view from the room's window had appeared on the plate. Joseph and others developed plates that took quicker photos.

The photograph which Joseph produced was known as a Heliograph. Three years later, Louis Daguerre partnered with Joseph to continue their works.

Answer: Hobby horse

The hobby horse was made of wood, had no pedals, and was pushed along the ground with your feet.

Answer: Satellite

The Soviet scientists created the first artificial satellite called "Sputnik I". This was the first in a series of satellites collectively known as the Sputnik program. The launch of Sputnik I marked the start of the Space Age.