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Scientific Scales Trivia Quiz

Over the past 4 or 5 hundred years human beings have done a marvelous job of discovering ways to measure natural phenomena. Let's take a look at some of the scales that have been developed to measure everything from the weather to earthquakes!

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

Author
thejazzkickazz

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
87,195

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
1535

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The Mohs scale is used to determine the hardness of minerals, with diamond being the hardest (10) and talc being the softest (1). Of what nationality was the fellow who invented this scale in 1812?
Hint

German

Russian

Swedish

Dutch

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Question 2 of 10

2. An important figure in the development of the pH scale was which Danish chemist with a fun name?
Hint

Jurgen Jurgensen

J�hann J�hannsen

Anders Andersen

S�ren S�rensen

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Question 3 of 10

3. The Mercalli scale is a lesser known measure of what important natural phenomenon?
Hint

Typhoon wind strength

Earthquakes

Humidity

Lightning strike frequency

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Question 4 of 10

4. Another guy with a fun name, he was an Italian inventor who developed a 'thermoscope', an early version of the thermometer, which most significantly was the first temperature related instrument to have a numerical scale applied. What was his name?
Hint

Capriccio di Capriccio

Giovanni Giovanni

Santorio Santorio

Bondone di Bondone

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Question 5 of 10

5. Speaking of hot and cold, Anders Celsius was the Swedish inventor of a very commonly used measure of temperature, the Centigrade (or Celsius) scale. But Celsius was not a specialist in thermodynamics, rather, he was a professor of what scientific discipline at Uppsala, Sweden?
Hint

Chemistry

Botany

Astronomy

Zoology

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Question 6 of 10

6. Following the theme of temperature scales, we now move on to Lord Kelvin, whose absolute scale of temperature provides us with a fairly accurate measurement of 'absolute zero'. Kelvin is also well known for which other major scientific accomplishment?
Hint

Development of the 3rd law of thermodynamics

Development of Charles' Law

Development of the 2nd law of thermodynamics

Development of Boyle's Law

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of these scientists worked alongside Charles Richter in creating the Richter scale?
Hint

John Dawson

Beno Gutenberg

Inge Lehmann

Andrija Mahorovicic

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Question 8 of 10

8. The Fujita scale is used to measure which natural phenomenon?
Hint

Tornado wind-intensity

Ultra-violet indices

Atmospheric ozone levels

Tsunami volumes and heights

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these names is attached to the scale of damage which potentially could be caused by an asteroid or comet impacting the Earth?
Hint

Firenze

Torino

Venezio

Napoli

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Question 10 of 10

10. How many points are there on the Beaufort scale for measuring wind force?
Hint

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: German

Friedrich Mohs was a German mineralogist who desired to have a measure of the level of resistance to scratching of the various minerals he studied. His choice of minerals for each level (1-10) is somewhat arbitrary, and is certainly not linear.

2. An important figure in the development of the pH scale was which Danish chemist with a fun name?

Answer: S�ren S�rensen

In 1909 S�rensen developed his scale, which measures the acidity of a solution. At a pH of 7, the acidity is considered neutral. High numbers like 12 and 13 represent a high level of alkalinity, while lower numbers like 2 or 3 represent a high level of acidity.

3. The Mercalli scale is a lesser known measure of what important natural phenomenon?

Answer: Earthquakes

Now called the 'Modified Mercalli Scale', it was invented by Giuseppe Mercalli in 1902 to describe the intensity of earthquakes, and is not a very scientific scale like its counterpart, the Richter scale, being qualitative rather than quantitative. An example here...this is the 'measure' of MM VIII on the Mercalli scale: 'Everyone runs outdoors. Moderate to major damage. Minor damage to specially designed buildings. Chimneys and walls collapse.' I think he should have added 'run for your lives' for level 12!

Answer: Santorio Santorio

Santorio's invention of the thermoscope (which is disputed) possibly even preceded the discovery of the water thermometer by Galileo in 1593.

Answer: Astronomy

Though he was an esteemed member of the academic community in Sweden, and a well-respected astronomer (even having built the first observatory in Sweden), he is best known for his temperature scale that still bears his name.

Answer: Development of the 2nd law of thermodynamics

The 2nd law of thermodynamics is also known as the law of conservation of energy (heat cannot flow from a colder to a warmer body).

7. Which of these scientists worked alongside Charles Richter in creating the Richter scale?

Answer: Beno Gutenberg

The German-born Gutenberg and American-born Richter were both professors at Caltech when they co-authored various studies on seismic activity. Together they developed the Richter scale, allowing for a very accurate determination of earthquake intensity.

8. The Fujita scale is used to measure which natural phenomenon?

Answer: Tornado wind-intensity

The Fujita scale was developed by T. Theodore Fujita, a University of Chicago professor, in 1971. There are 6 levels of the F-scale, ranging from F0 (wind speeds of less than 73 mph) to F5 (wind speeds ranging from 261-318 mph). At level F5 cars may be tossed about, houses torn down and trees uprooted...get into the cellar!

9. Which of these names is attached to the scale of damage which potentially could be caused by an asteroid or comet impacting the Earth?

Answer: Torino

This scale was developed by MIT professor Richard P. Binzel in the mid-90s and is named for a conference on potential asteroid impacts which was held in Turin, Italy in 1999. Check out www.torinoscale.com for more details on this scary scale!

10. How many points are there on the Beaufort scale for measuring wind force?

Answer: 13

That was a bit of a trick question, as it appears there are only 12, but the scale goes from 0-12, making 13 points! This scale was developed by Sir Francis Beaufort, a British admiral, in 1805. The measures go from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane) and lists light air, breezes, gales and storms along the way...bring a life preserver! Thanks for playing this quiz, I hope you enjoyed it and learned a thing or two.

Source: Author thejazzkickazz

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