In this section students in Mr. Jung’s classes will have the opportunity to answer a question to earn extra credit. A student will only get one response per question and that response must be submitted in writing. The extra credit earned will be dependent on the the amount of school days the question has been posted. For each day, the student will receive one point of extra credit, with the maximum being 5 points (one school week). Only the first correct response will receive credit for the question.

Question #71 – 5/12/08

I am a chemical symbol for an element.
This element was discovered in 1824.
I am a Spanish word without the accent.
Reverse me so I become a form of a common verb.

What symbol am I?

Correct Answer – Si (Silicon)

Answered 5/12/08 @ 8:00 PM

Question #72 – 5/13/08

Engineers are working on a new six-cylinder diesel engine. It will have a 1.2-liter capacity and the average speed of use is 2,000 revolutions per minute. However the engine can only work at temperatures of up to 500 degrees Celsius.

How many spark plugs would an experienced engineer recommend to be put in the engine?

Correct Answer – None, only gasoline engines use spark plugs!

Answered 5/13/08 @ 6:00 PM

Question #73 – 5/14/08

Suppose you have an open topped box that is 5cm x 5cm x 5cm. (capacity: 125 cm³) Inside the box is a steel ball bearing that is 25 cm³ in size. Next to the box is a two-liter pail filled with mercury. How many cubic centimeters of mercury would you have to pour into the box to completely submerge the ball bearing?

Correct Answer – You couldn’t, mercury is so dense that the steel would float.

Answered 5/19/08 @ 8:15 PM

Question #74 – 5/20/08

If you were handed a glass of “Powdered Water”, what would you have to add to the glass in order to change it into liquid water that you could drink?

Correct Answer – Heat since “Powdered Water” could be crushed ice, and while it is still water, you could not drink it like you could liquid water. Or nothing since there was an alchemical product that was used to fill canteens.

Answered 5/20/08 @ 5:00 PM

Question #75 – 5/21/08

How is it that you can cross between two time zones, but not have to reset the time on your watch?

Correct Answer – GMT+12 and GMT-12 are the same time, but opposite sides of the International Date Line, so only the date would change. Or, certain states in the US do not switch their clocks for “daylight savings time” (California & Arizona), so it would be possible to there to change time zones without having to change your clock, but only during certain times of the year.

Answered 5/21/08 @ 4:00 PM

Question #76 – 5/22/08

For his science fair project, John decided to experiment with renewable energy sources. He hoped that his work would solve all of our energy problems. He decided to power an electric generator with an electric motor both of which were 100% efficient (we do not know how). He thought once the generator was up to speed, he could just flip a switch and the generator could supply the electricity that powered the electric motor. John was for sure he made a historical discovery, but as soon has he plugged in a light bulb, his system slowed down and stopped. Why did his experiment fail once he put it to the test?

Correct Answer - The maximum amount of electrical power that the generator can supply is equal to the mechanical power that the electric motor provides. So once the generator powers the electric motor, there would be no power left to run any additional electrical appliance. If it worked it would be breaking the Law of Conservation of Energy.

Answered 5/29/08 @ 4:30 PM

Question #77 – 5/30/08

A light-year is the distance that light waves travel in a year. How many light-years are we away from the nearest star?

Correct Answer - About 8 light-minutes (or about 0.000015 light-years) since the nearest star is our own Sun. The second nearest star is about 4.2 light-years away or 25 trillion miles.

Answered 6/2/08 @ 9:00 PM

Question #78 – 6/3/08

If a light oxygen tank were tied to a bird so that it can breathe on the moon, how fast could the bird fly on the moon if it flew about 25 miles per hour on Earth? (Remember that there is less gravity on the moon)