Engaging Space Trivia Questions for Everyone
Written on
Chapter 1: The Fun of Space Trivia
Recently, we hosted a homecoming event centered around a “space” theme. As a part of my role at the university radio station, I was invited to engage students with space trivia questions in exchange for candy. Naturally, I eagerly accepted the challenge.
Since I had to curate some questions, I thought it would be beneficial to share them here. Some questions didn't quite land as expected, but I'll mention those at the end. While I'll provide brief answers, I can't help but elaborate on the science behind them.
Section 1.1: Planetary Names and Days
Question: Can you name a planet associated with a day of the week?
Answer: You can choose from the following: Mercury (Wednesday), Venus (Friday), Mars (Tuesday), Jupiter (Thursday), or Saturn (Saturday). For a deeper look into the origins of these names, you can check out this video.
This question was quite engaging. Most students instinctively answered Saturn—it's the most recognizable. However, there were a few who got creative!
Question: Identify a planet that does NOT have a name linked to a day of the week.
Answer: This is essentially a twist on the previous question. Acceptable answers include Earth, Neptune, Uranus, or even Pluto (which can be a controversial topic). Any extrasolar planet also counts.
Section 1.2: Light Travel and Discoveries
Question: How long does it take for light to reach Earth from the Sun?
Answer: The answer is 8 minutes. This trivia question stumped many students, with a common incorrect response being “1 light year” (which is inaccurate for two reasons).
Question: What significant event occurred in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, in 2015?
Answer: The detection of gravitational waves by LIGO marked this milestone. Given that our university is located right next to Livingston Parish, most students were aware of this exciting development.
Question: Name a planet.
Answer: This one’s a gimme! Most participants answered correctly, whether it was Earth or another planet. I like including some straightforward questions to boost confidence.
Question: What is the predominant element found in Jupiter's interior?
Answer: Hydrogen. As the most abundant element in the universe, about 30% of students responded correctly.
Chapter 2: More Trivia and Interesting Facts
Question: Which element is named after the Sun?
Answer: Helium, derived from the Greek word “helios” for the Sun, was discovered in 1868 through solar spectroscopy.
Question: Can you name our galaxy?
Answer: The Milky Way. A fun twist is that correct answers could win a Milky Way candy bar!
Question: How long does it take for Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun?
Answer: One year, or approximately 365.25 days. Some students mistakenly answered “24 hours,” mixing up a year with a day.
Question: What about the Moon’s orbit around Earth?
Answer: The Moon takes 27.3 days to orbit but 29.5 days for a complete cycle through its phases, which is why I also accepted “1 month” as an answer.
Question: Name a space telescope.
Answer: Most respondents mentioned either the Hubble Space Telescope or the James Webb Space Telescope. However, there are many others, like SWIFT and Chandra.
Question: Can you name a rover that has explored Mars?
Answer: Curiosity, Perseverance, Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity, or Zhurong are all acceptable answers. I just wanted an excuse to discuss Mars and its robotic explorers!
Question: Which planet is closest to the Sun?
Answer: Mercury. Simple enough!
Question: What distinguishes a meteor from a meteorite?
Answer: A meteor is a space rock entering Earth’s atmosphere (often called a shooting star), while a meteorite is a rock that has landed on Earth. This question could have been clearer.
Question: What event can generate gravitational waves?
Answer: While technically any event could, practically, it’s usually a collision between black holes or neutron stars. This question didn’t resonate well, as few could answer correctly.
Question: Define a solar eclipse.
Answer: This occurs when the Moon casts a shadow on Earth. Not the best question, but it was timely since an annular eclipse was approaching.
Question: What is a lunar eclipse?
Answer: This happens when Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon. I avoided asking both questions simultaneously, as they are closely related.
Question: In what year was the first extrasolar planet discovered?
Answer: The answer is 1992 for a planet orbiting a pulsar and 1995 for one around a main sequence star. This question was too challenging, as no one responded correctly.
Overall, the trivia session was a fantastic experience. Interacting with students and discussing space-related topics is always enjoyable. I hope to organize a similar event with general science questions in the future, perhaps using a projector to display questions more clearly amidst the background noise.
Section 2.1: Questions to Avoid
Here are some questions I wouldn’t reuse due to their complexity or the need for lengthy explanations. Short answer questions proved to be the most effective, especially in a noisy environment:
- What causes the phases of the moon?
- Why is it warmer in summer than winter (in the Northern Hemisphere)?
- Why does a comet's tail point away from the Sun?
- What does the term “dark side of the moon” refer to?
- What does it mean if light from a star is red-shifted?
Reflecting on the trivia event, it was both engaging and educational. I look forward to future opportunities to blend fun with learning about science!