Question 1: Why are tennis balls fuzzy?
Question 2: How many Met Galas have taken place since the event began in 1948?
The Met Gala, formally called the Costume Institute Gala or the Met Ball, is an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City. It is one of the most prominent and exclusive social events in the world.
Question 3: Which famous classical composer was deaf when he composed some of his most well-known works?
Beethoven began losing his hearing in his late twenties, and by the last decade of his life he was almost completely deaf. Despite this, he composed many of his most admired works during this period, including his late string quartets and the Ninth Symphony which features the famous "Ode to Joy" chorus in the final movement. Beethoven premiered his Ninth Symphony in 1824, but had to be turned around to see the audience's applause that he could not hear.
Question 4: What term refers to the idea that certain behaviors arise from unconscious desires and are thus kept out of conscious awareness?
According to psychoanalytic theory, repression is a defense mechanism where unacceptable thoughts, memories, or desires are pushed out of conscious awareness to avoid the anxiety they might cause if confronted directly. The repressed material is not forgotten, but is thought to influence behavior unconsciously.
Question 5: Which company became the first publicly traded U.S. company to reach a $1 trillion market cap?
Apple reached a $1 trillion market cap on August 2, 2018, becoming the first U.S. company to do so. Amazon hit the $1 trillion mark just a few weeks later on September 4, 2018.
Question 6: In what country were the Terracotta Warriors discovered?
The Terracotta Army was discovered in 1974 near Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China. The clay soldiers were buried with the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, to protect him in the afterlife.
Question 7: When was the Mona Lisa painted?
The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait painting by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. It is considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance.
Question 8: In the musical Hamilton, which Founding Father does Alexander Hamilton engage in a duel with?
The duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr took place on July 11, 1804 in Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton was mortally wounded and died the next day. The duel is depicted in the final scenes of the musical Hamilton.
Question 9: What was the name of the famous 1925 court case that dealt with teaching evolution in schools?
Also known as the "Scopes Monkey Trial", this landmark case tested a Tennessee law which made it unlawful to teach human evolution in public schools. High school science teacher John Scopes was found guilty of violating the law. The trial drew intense national publicity and featured a dramatic courtroom showdown between legendary lawyers Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan.
Question 10: Which type of rock is formed from molten magma?
The word "igneous" comes from the Latin word "ignis" which means fire. Igneous rocks make up approximately 15% of the Earth's current land surface.
The fuzz on a tennis ball creates a thin turbulent boundary layer of air that clings to the ball's surface, which slows the ball down as it travels through the air, effectively reducing the speed and power of shots.