Science
Start with a hunch and test its scale. These questions explore measurable things in science; units and conditions matter as much as the number itself.
50 available questions in English
Play this categoryHow many atoms are in a water molecule?
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3
How many atoms are in a water molecule?
Its 3 atoms consist of hydrogen bonded to oxygen.
How many atoms are in a methane molecule in total?
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5
How many atoms are in a methane molecule in total?
Methane has 5 atoms arranged around a central carbon atom.
How many atoms are in a glucose molecule in total?
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24
How many atoms are in a glucose molecule in total?
A glucose molecule contains 24 atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
After the last row’s new names were approved in 2016, how many elements were in the periodic table?
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118
After the last row’s new names were approved in 2016, how many elements were in the periodic table?
The naming completed a table of 118 recognized elements.
How many numbered vertical groups are in the standard periodic table?
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18
How many numbered vertical groups are in the standard periodic table?
Its 18 groups bring together elements with related chemical behavior.
How many horizontal periods are in the standard periodic table?
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7
How many horizontal periods are in the standard periodic table?
The 7 periods remain the same even when the bottom blocks are drawn separately.
How many protons are in the nucleus of an oxygen atom?
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8
How many protons are in the nucleus of an oxygen atom?
Every oxygen atom has 8 protons, regardless of its neutron count.
How many protons are in the nucleus of a carbon atom?
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6
How many protons are in the nucleus of a carbon atom?
Carbon’s 6 protons define the element in diamonds and living things alike.
How many protons are in the nucleus of a gold atom?
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79
How many protons are in the nucleus of a gold atom?
Gold’s atomic number is 79, and its chemical symbol is Au.
How many protons are in the nucleus of an iron atom?
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26
How many protons are in the nucleus of an iron atom?
Iron has 26 protons and appears in the periodic table as Fe.
How many protons are in the nucleus of a uranium atom?
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92
How many protons are in the nucleus of a uranium atom?
All uranium isotopes have 92 protons, even though their neutron counts differ.
About what percentage of dry air is nitrogen, rounded to a whole percent?
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78%
About what percentage of dry air is nitrogen, rounded to a whole percent?
Nitrogen makes up about 78% percent of dry air, more than oxygen does.
About what percentage of dry air is oxygen, rounded to a whole percent?
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21%
About what percentage of dry air is oxygen, rounded to a whole percent?
Oxygen accounts for about 21% percent of dry air.
About what percentage of Earth’s surface is covered by water, rounded to a whole percent?
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71%
About what percentage of Earth’s surface is covered by water, rounded to a whole percent?
Water covers about 71% percent of the surface, mostly in the oceans.
At about what temperature in Celsius does gold melt, rounded to a whole degree?
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1,064°C
At about what temperature in Celsius does gold melt, rounded to a whole degree?
Gold melts at about 1,064°C degrees Celsius under standard pressure.
At about what temperature in Celsius does copper melt, rounded to a whole degree?
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1,085°C
At about what temperature in Celsius does copper melt, rounded to a whole degree?
Copper melts at about 1,085°C degrees Celsius under standard pressure.
At one atmosphere, at about what temperature in kelvin does dry ice sublime, rounded whole?
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195 K
At one atmosphere, at about what temperature in kelvin does dry ice sublime, rounded whole?
At about 195 K kelvin, dry ice changes directly from solid to gas.
How many kilometers does light travel in vacuum in one second, rounded to a whole kilometer?
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299,792 km
How many kilometers does light travel in vacuum in one second, rounded to a whole kilometer?
Light covers about 299,792 km kilometers in that second.
What is the commonly quoted mean Earth–Moon distance in kilometers, measured center to center?
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384,400 km
What is the commonly quoted mean Earth–Moon distance in kilometers, measured center to center?
The mean distance is about 384,400 km kilometers, but the Moon’s orbit is not a perfect circle.
About what is the Moon’s mean diameter in kilometers, rounded to a whole kilometer?
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3,475 km
About what is the Moon’s mean diameter in kilometers, rounded to a whole kilometer?
The Moon’s mean diameter is about 3,475 km kilometers.
About what is Earth’s mean diameter in kilometers, rounded to a whole kilometer?
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12,742 km
About what is Earth’s mean diameter in kilometers, rounded to a whole kilometer?
The mean diameter is about 12,742 km kilometers; Earth is slightly flattened at the poles.
About what is Jupiter’s mean diameter in kilometers, rounded to a whole kilometer?
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139,820 km
About what is Jupiter’s mean diameter in kilometers, rounded to a whole kilometer?
Jupiter’s mean diameter is about 139,820 km kilometers, much larger than Earth’s.
About what is Mercury’s mean diameter in kilometers, rounded to a whole kilometer?
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4,879 km
About what is Mercury’s mean diameter in kilometers, rounded to a whole kilometer?
Mercury measures about 4,879 km kilometers across on average.
About how many days pass from one new moon to the next, rounded to a whole day?
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30 days
About how many days pass from one new moon to the next, rounded to a whole day?
The phase cycle rounds to 30 days days, slightly longer than the orbital period.
How many days does the Moon take to orbit Earth relative to distant stars, rounded whole?
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27 days
How many days does the Moon take to orbit Earth relative to distant stars, rounded whole?
The orbit takes about 27 days days when measured against distant stars.
How many Earth minutes are in a mean solar day on Mars, rounded to a whole minute?
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1,480 min
How many Earth minutes are in a mean solar day on Mars, rounded to a whole minute?
A Martian solar day lasts about 1,480 min Earth minutes.
How many Earth days does Mercury take to orbit the Sun, rounded to a whole day?
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88 days
How many Earth days does Mercury take to orbit the Sun, rounded to a whole day?
A year on Mercury lasts about 88 days Earth days.
How many Earth days does Mars take to orbit the Sun, rounded to a whole day?
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687 days
How many Earth days does Mars take to orbit the Sun, rounded to a whole day?
A Martian year lasts about 687 days Earth days.
Under the classification adopted in 2006, how many planets are in the Solar System?
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8
Under the classification adopted in 2006, how many planets are in the Solar System?
The classification recognizes 8 planets and places Pluto among the dwarf planets.
How many Martian moons were discovered by Asaph Hall in 1877?
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2
How many Martian moons were discovered by Asaph Hall in 1877?
Hall discovered 2 moons: Phobos and Deimos.
How many moons of Jupiter are known as the Galilean moons?
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4
How many moons of Jupiter are known as the Galilean moons?
These 4 moons are large enough to be seen with a small telescope.
At 20 degrees Celsius, how fast does sound travel in dry air in meters per second, rounded whole?
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343 m/s
At 20 degrees Celsius, how fast does sound travel in dry air in meters per second, rounded whole?
At that temperature, sound travels at about 343 m/s meters per second.
How many base units are in the International System of Units?
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7
How many base units are in the International System of Units?
The SI has 7 base units, from the second to the candela.
How many classical laws of motion are named after Newton?
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3
How many classical laws of motion are named after Newton?
Newton’s 3 laws describe how forces affect motion.
How many laws of thermodynamics are there when the zeroth law is included?
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4
How many laws of thermodynamics are there when the zeroth law is included?
The 4 laws cover thermal equilibrium, energy, entropy and absolute zero.
How many equations make up the standard set of Maxwell’s equations?
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4
How many equations make up the standard set of Maxwell’s equations?
The 4 equations connect electricity, magnetism and light.
How many fundamental interactions are in the standard list of forces in nature?
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4
How many fundamental interactions are in the standard list of forces in nature?
The 4 interactions include gravity and electromagnetism.
How many matter-fermion types are in the Standard Model, excluding antiparticles?
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12
How many matter-fermion types are in the Standard Model, excluding antiparticles?
The 12 types are divided between quarks and leptons.
How many standard amino acids are in the usual basic list used to build proteins?
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20
How many standard amino acids are in the usual basic list used to build proteins?
The basic list has 20 amino acids; rare additions are usually taught separately.
How many possible codons are in the standard genetic code, including stop signals?
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64
How many possible codons are in the standard genetic code, including stop signals?
The 64 codons include instructions for amino acids and signals to stop.
What is iodine-131’s physical half-life in days, rounded to a whole day?
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8 days
What is iodine-131’s physical half-life in days, rounded to a whole day?
After about 8 days days, half the original iodine-131 atoms remain undecayed.
What is tritium’s physical half-life in years, rounded to a whole year?
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12 yrs
What is tritium’s physical half-life in years, rounded to a whole year?
Tritium’s half-life is about 12 yrs years, making it useful in dating some waters.
In what year did Watson and Crick publish their DNA double-helix model?
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1953
In what year did Watson and Crick publish their DNA double-helix model?
Their model appeared in 1953, drawing on crucial experimental evidence from others.
In what year did CERN announce the discovery of a particle consistent with the Higgs boson?
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2012
In what year did CERN announce the discovery of a particle consistent with the Higgs boson?
The announcement in 2012 followed experiments at the Large Hadron Collider.
In what year were gravitational waves first directly detected, before the public announcement?
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2015
In what year were gravitational waves first directly detected, before the public announcement?
The signal was recorded in 2015; the public announcement came later.
In what year did J. J. Thomson announce the discovery of the electron?
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1897
In what year did J. J. Thomson announce the discovery of the electron?
Thomson’s work in 1897 showed that atoms contain smaller charged particles.
In what year did James Chadwick discover the neutron?
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1932
In what year did James Chadwick discover the neutron?
Chadwick identified the neutron in 1932, helping explain atomic nuclei.
In what year did Henri Becquerel discover spontaneous radioactivity?
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1896
In what year did Henri Becquerel discover spontaneous radioactivity?
Becquerel’s discovery in 1896 came from experiments with uranium salts.
In what year did Einstein present the final field equations of general relativity?
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1915
In what year did Einstein present the final field equations of general relativity?
The equations of 1915 describe gravity through the geometry of spacetime.
In what year did Dmitri Mendeleev publish his first periodic table?
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1869
In what year did Dmitri Mendeleev publish his first periodic table?
His table from 1869 left gaps for elements that had not yet been discovered.
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