What is the Science Trivia Challenge?

Quiz Format

Team Registration (see note below)

Event Schedule

Try these Sample Questions


What is the Science Trivia Challenge?

The Science Trivia Challenge has beeny a friendly, spirited contest hosted since 2007 by the MIT Club of Boston as part of the Cambridge Science Festival, which is organized annually by the MIT Museum. The traditional in person event was not held during the pandemic.

On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, the Challenge returns to its customary home at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard at 415 Main Street in Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA. It is a live team trivia quiz where contestants are challenged on their knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, astronomy, computer science, earth sciences, inventions, local contributions to science and other subjects. The information might be useful or purely trivial and might test knowledge of scientific methods, theories, or history. Teams have to be ready for anything, and any can win! We are thrilled that MIT Professor Marty Culpepper will be the Moderator.

The Challenge is a contest between teams which consist of students in High School and Middle School. The maximum team size in any given round is five players, but teams can have up to ten players total. High School Teams are limited to students through grade 12, with a limit of two teams per school. Middle School Teams are limited to students through grade 8, with a limit of one team per school. (A second team from Middle School team may be included on a space available basis, please e-mail sciencechallenge@mit.edu to request). Teams are entered on a first-come, first-served basis until the event capacity is reached, so it is best to register early.

Every contestant will several modest gifts from our partners. The top finishing teams will also have the opportunity to be treated to some special MIT venues at a time of their choosing. For many years, an Open Division for adults was included, but no longer. The organizers wanted to make more spaces available to the growing interest from local Middle and High Schools. The Science Trivia Challenge also has a history of outstanding, colorful moderators. For the first several years, the competition was hosted by Ira Flatow of National Public Radio's "Science Friday" fame.


Quiz Format

  • The competition consists of separate High School and Middle School rounds of 20 questions each. Questions can be multiple-choice, matching, short-answer, or multiple-answer format. Each question is given a point value, with partial credit awarded in some cases.
  • All teams competing in a given round will be positioned at a table on the stage, with a scorekeeper for each team. When the moderator asks a question, the scorekeepers will give each team an answer sheet with the question printed on it and space for the team's answer.
  • After a question is read, all teams will have a short amount of time to discuss the question, write down a final answer on the answer sheet, and hand the sheet back to the scorekeeper. After time has expired, the moderator will read the correct answer(s) and the scorekeepers will assign points accordingly.


Team Registration

The following rules will apply to teams:

  • A player can only be a member (or alternate) on one team. Team composition can be changed prior to the start of competition, but cannot be changed once competition has begun.
  • For teams: There is a limit of five players per team in at any onetime. Each team is allowed to register with up to five alternates, but substitutions can only be made at the half-way point in the round. .

Register your team HERE for the Science Trivia Challenge on the MIT Alumni Association registration system. Space will be filled on a first-come first-served basis.

The registration fee is $10 per team, payable on-line via credit card. Spectators are free. Also you can apply for a waiver by emailing a request to sciencechallenge@mit.edu.



Event Schedule

  • 5:00 - 5:45pm   Team Check In and Reception
  • 5:00 - 6:00pm   Food, Mathworks and MIT chemistry displays in Broad Lobby   
  • 6:00 - 6:05pm   Welcome and introductions in Broad Auditorium
  • 6:05 - 7:05pm   Middle School Challenge
  • 7:05 - 7:25pm   Intermission
  • 7:25 - 7:30pm   A Word from our Sponsor, Mathworks
  • 7:30 - 8:30pm   High School Challenge  
  • 8:30 - 8:45pm   Awards and Closing Ceremony

Food and refreshments are provided courtesy of our sponsor, Mathworks. Please contact sciencechallenge@mit.edu with any questions.


Try these questions from past Science Trivia Challenges...

   (Note: To see some additional questions, click here).

1. A fluid is considered "Newtonian" when its viscosity is independent of its shear rate. All but one of the substances below is a Non-Newtonian fluid. Which one is a Newtonian fluid?

a) house paint
b) ketchup
c) motor oil
d) shampoo
e) toothpaste

Answer: c) motor oil.

2. Scientists have long been able to calculate the masses of most planets, including Earth. It has taken longer to measure the masses of Mercury and Venus, primarily because these two planets lack what?

Answer: Moons.

3. Match each of the following animals with the way they consume their food:

1. Cow
2. Snake
3. Venomous spider
4. Whale shark
5. Parakeet
6. Raccoon

a) Grind in a gizzard
b) Chew, regurgitate, chew
c) Filtration
d) Dissolve and slurp it up
e) Chew
f) Swallow whole

Answer: 1-b; 2-f; 3-d; 4-c; 5-a; 6-e.

4. A gallon of gasoline contains about 132 million joules of energy. My iPhone has a 3.7 volt battery with a fully-charged capacity of 1400 mAh (milliamp-hours). Approximately how many times could I charge my phone with the energy contained in one gallon of gasoline?

a) 7
b) 70
c) 700
d) 7,000
e) 70,000

Answer: d) 7,000.

5. Match each of the following bathroom products with their common ingredients:

1. Anti-perspirant
2. Toothpaste
3. Shampoo
4. Shaving cream
5. Drain cleaner
6. Mouthwash

a) Isobutane (a propellant)
b) Ethanol
c) Sodium Monofluorophosphate (fluoride)
d) Aluminum chloride
e) Ammonium lauryl sulfate (a foaming agent)
f) Lye

Answer: 1-d; 2-c; 3-e; 4-a; 5-f; 6-b.

6. Match each of the following algorithms with what you might use to find:

1. Dijkstra's algorithm
2. Euclid's algorithm
3. Ford-Fulkerson method
4. Shor's algorithm
5. Sieve of Eratosthenes

a) Factors (on a quantum computer)
b) Greatest common divisor
c) Maximum network flow
d) Prime numbers
e) Shortest path in a graph

Answer: 1-e; 2-b; 3-c; 4-a; 5-d.

7. Good news everybody - my grow-ray worked! Now each cell in my body is the size of a pea (about 1 cm). Now I'm as tall as:

a) A 3-story building
b) The Burj Khalifa
c) Mt. Everest
d) The orbit of the ISS

Answer: b) The Burj Khalifa.

 

If you would like to submit questions for the Science Trivia Challenge, please submit them here: submit.