The useful science drawer.
A few ideas hiding behind ordinary things.
Ten questions, with the answers explained. Try them in your head, then open each answer when you're ready.
Play this quiz →QUESTION 1 / 10
What is the chemical symbol for gold?
- Fe
- Au
- Ag
- Cu
Show answer & explanation+
Au
Au comes from aurum, the Latin word for gold.
QUESTION 2 / 10
What is the chemical symbol for iron?
- Fe
- I
- Ir
- In
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Fe
Iron's symbol is Fe, from the Latin ferrum.
QUESTION 3 / 10
Which particle has a negative electric charge?
- Neutron
- Proton
- Electron
- Photon
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Electron
Electrons carry negative charge. Protons are positive and neutrons have no net charge.
QUESTION 4 / 10
What is H2O commonly called?
- Water
- Table salt
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Carbon dioxide
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Water
A water molecule contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
QUESTION 5 / 10
What is the SI unit of electric current?
- Volt
- Ohm
- Ampere
- Watt
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Ampere
Electric current is measured in amperes, often shortened to amps.
QUESTION 6 / 10
What is the SI unit of force?
- Newton
- Joule
- Pascal
- Watt
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Newton
Force is measured in newtons. A joule measures energy.
QUESTION 7 / 10
Which state of matter has a fixed volume but takes the shape of its container?
- Gas
- Plasma
- Liquid
- Vacuum
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Liquid
A liquid has a definite volume under given conditions but flows to fit its container.
QUESTION 8 / 10
What does a prism do to white light in the familiar rainbow experiment?
- Turns it into sound
- Converts it into electricity
- Separates it into colors
- Stops all wavelengths equally
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Separates it into colors
Different wavelengths refract by different amounts, spreading white light into a spectrum.
QUESTION 9 / 10
What is the chemical symbol for silver?
- Ag
- Au
- Si
- S
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Ag
Silver's symbol is Ag, from the Latin argentum.
QUESTION 10 / 10
Which force opposes sliding between two contacting surfaces?
- Friction
- Nuclear fusion
- Refraction
- Buoyancy
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Friction
Friction resists relative sliding where surfaces touch.