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.
