Science Trivia - Test Your Smarts With These Science Questions!
Written by Rachel Bortles
Last updated · 6 min play time
Think you know everything about science? Well, put your knowledge to the test with these science trivia questions!
Quiz written by
Rachel BortlesHi there! I'm a writer, yoga teacher, bartender, and mother. I'm passionate about spending time outside, space exploration, anything Harry Potter, and pizza.
Science Trivia Questions Quiz Questions
20 Questions · 1.1K Plays · No comments
Question 1
We all know Beyoncé wants to put a ring on it, but which planet(s) in our Solar System also have rings?
-
ASaturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune
-
BJust Saturn
-
CSaturn, Mercury, Uranus, and Venus
-
DSaturn and Earth
Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune
Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune are the 4 giant gas planets in our solar system and the only planets with rings. Saturn has the largest and longest-known ring system, in fact, it wasn't until the 1970s that scientists discovered rings on the other gas planets!
Question 2
Of the countless inventions throughout history, there's one that never ceases to brighten up our day. Name the man or woman credited with inventing the light bulb.
-
ABenjamin Franklin
-
BBill Gates
-
CThomas Edison
-
DMarie Curie
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison was a brilliant, self-educated thinker who used trial and error to produce the very first incandescent light bulb in 1879. It must be noted that despite his partial deafness and rare case of childhood scarlet fever, he continued to see the light!
Question 3
If you're feeling a little rusty on your science trivia, don't worry because this is just the question for you! What is the chemical reaction that causes iron to rust?
-
ACrystallization
-
BDigestion
-
COxidation
-
DDecomposition
Oxidation
Digestion, Decomposition, and Crystallization all have their time to shine, but Oxidation occurs when air and water react with the metal to form rust. Oxidation actually refers to any chemical reaction that involves the moving of electrons, specifically the side giving them away!
Question 4
Gold is great and all, but silver also has its place on the periodic table. Speaking of, what is silver's atomic symbol on the periodic table of elements?
-
AAu
-
BAg
-
CSi
-
DFe
Ag
Si = Silicon, Fe = Iron, and Au = Gold. There's only one symbol for the soft, white transition metal with the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metals, and that's Ag! It comes from the Latin word "argentum".
Question 5
Sure, clouds may appear as though they're made of fluffy cotton, but what are they really made of?
-
AHelium
-
BSalt
-
CWater
-
DActually, it is cotton
Water
Although cumulus clouds look like big fluff balls floating in the sky on a nice day, they're still comprised of water and appear white because they're reflecting the light of the sun. Gray clouds are so full of water that they don't reflect light, making the sky look dark and ominous.
Question 6
The Backstreet Boys sang "I Want It That Way" and won over the hearts of young girls and boys nationwide. If they were following the sun from rising to setting, which way exactly would they want it?
-
ASouth to North
-
BNorth to South
-
CEast to West
-
DWest to East
East to West
Due to the Earth's gravitational spin, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. However, the rising and setting points change slightly every day, going from the farthest northeast and northwest at the summer solstice to due east and west at the fall equinox.
Question 7
When most people think of the color green, they think of money, envy, or plants. I don't know about the first two, but what is the green pigment in plants which helps them absorb sunlight?
-
ASugar
-
BPetals
-
CChlorophyll
-
DCarotenoids
Chlorophyll
Although carotenoids are pigments found in many plants, fruits, and vegetables, they're responsible for bright red, yellow and orange hues. Chlorophyll, on the other hand, aids in photosynthesis, which is essentially how plants are able to gain nutrients from the sun!
Question 8
As humans, we use the term "spineless" to describe someone like the cowardly lion (spoiler alert: he becomes brave). In science, we refer to things without backbones as what?
-
AVertebrates
-
BFish
-
CAmphibians
-
DInvertebrates
Invertebrates
An invertebrate is an animal that neither has nor develops a backbone, such as arthropods, mollusks, annelids, and cnidarians. Here's a little something to help you sleep at night - there are likely millions of invertebrates in your home at this very second!
Question 9
Ok, so we all know that moons orbit planets, but what object do all the planets orbit?
-
AThe Sun
-
BEarth
-
CThe Milky Way
-
DPluto
The Sun
Just as an apple will fall to the ground when you drop it, the planets orbit the Sun due to its gravitational pull. Astonishingly, the Sun is large enough to fit over 1 million planet Earths inside, so it's easy to see why other plants are drawn to it!
Question 10
Water makes up roughly 71% of our planet's surface and up to 60% of the human body, but do you know the chemical formula of water?
-
AWa
-
BH2O
-
CH1O
-
DH
H<sub>2</sub>O
One water molecule is made from the union of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Feeling smart yet? Well, your brain is around 70% water, so I guess we can thank good ol' H<sub>2</sub>O for that too!
Question 11
A buffet of fruits and vegetables may sound okay to vegetarians, but what do we call organisms that eat mostly meat?
-
ACarnivores
-
BPescatarians
-
CHerbivores
-
DOmnivores
Carnivores
Herbivores exist on a plant-based diet while pescatarians feast on fish and omnivores enjoy some of both. A carnivore is an animal that fills its belly by killing and eating other animals.
Question 12
Of all the animals in the kingdom, primates are the closest relatives to humans, but which primates are the largest?
-
AChimpanzees
-
BOrangutans
-
CGorillas
-
DSpider Monkeys
Gorillas
Western Lowland adult male gorillas are around 5.5 ft. in length and weigh in at a whopping 374 lbs. Although these giants aren't always so gentle, they have been shown to learn sign language in captivity.
Question 13
DNA carries the genetic material for all living things. What is the name of the shape of DNA?
-
ATubular
-
BElliptical
-
CDouble Helix
-
DCylindrical
Double Helix
A DNA molecule is ladder-shaped and twisted into a coil formation to form a double helix. The "rungs" of the ladder are made of nitrogen and formed in pairs.
Question 14
Contrary to the old saying, we don't actually wear our hearts on our sleeves. That being said, what is the name of the arrangement of bones that serves to protect our heart, lungs, and other vital organs?
-
ACollar Bones
-
BVertebrae
-
CMetacarpals
-
DRib Cage
Rib Cage
The rib cage, or thoracic basket, is a group of bones called ribs attached to the sternum and vertebral column in the thorax of most vertebrates. It's sturdy enough to protect our most essential organs, yet flexible enough to expand by 3 to 5 cm with every breath we take!
Question 15
If you were a geologist, which of these subjects would you study?
-
AHerbs
-
BRocks
-
CWaves
-
DSpace
Rocks
Geology is an Earth science devoted to the study of the Earth and the materials which make it up. We're not just talking about dry land either, geology also includes the ocean floor!
Question 16
Your quiz game may already be on fire, but let's see if you can answer this one! What's the name of the molten rock which follows a volcanic eruption?
-
AAsh
-
BMeteorite
-
CMercury
-
DLava
Lava
Lava is created by geothermal energy and is released during a volcanic eruption. Fun fact: when it's underground, lava is called "magma".
Question 17
We all know that goats bleat, jump, and make us delicious cheese, but do you know what they call their babies?
-
AKids
-
BCalves
-
CJoeys
-
DFawns
Kids
Similarly to humans, goat babies are lovingly referred to as "kids". The kids often come in pairs and learn to stand up within minutes of being born!
Question 18
Stretching up to an astonishing 29,029 feet (8,848 meters) above sea level, what is the highest mountain in the world?
-
ABlueberry Mountain
-
BMount Kilimanjaro
-
CPikes Peak
-
DMount Everest
Mount Everest
Located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas, Mount Everest attracts climbers from all over the world who wish to scale its majesty. There's no need to hurry though, this mountain has been around for 60 million years and doesn't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon!
Question 19
Tight hamstrings are a runner's worst nightmare, but what's the name of the group of muscles on the front of your thighs?
-
ACalves
-
BTriceps
-
CQuadriceps
-
DBiceps
Quadriceps
Biceps and Triceps are both located in the upper arms while calves are in the lower legs. Quadriceps are the four large muscles on the femur that extend to the knees.
Question 20
Horses eat hay and pigs eat slop, but what do panda bears primarily eat?
-
AGrass
-
BBamboo
-
CFish
-
DBerries
Bamboo
A panda bear's diet consists of almost entirely bamboo, and they don't let any go to waste either! Pandas eat the leaves, stems, and shoots of various bamboo species.
Comments (0)
We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.