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The Ultimate Planet Earth Quiz: 33 Questions About Our World

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The Ultimate Planet Earth Quiz: 33 Questions About Our World

About this quiz

Planet Earth quiz: 33 questions about oceans, volcanoes, deserts, weather and record-breaking places on our planet. 🌎

How fast is Earth spinning under your feet? Where was the hottest temperature ever recorded? When would humans appear if Earth's history were one day? Great for family quiz nights, road trips and classrooms.

❓ IN THIS QUIZ

  • How fast is the ground at the equator moving as Earth spins?
  • Where was the hottest air temperature on Earth officially recorded?
  • Which continent has no native reptiles?
  • If Earth's whole history were squeezed into one day, when would humans appear?

💬 How many did you get right? Tell us your score in the comments. What's the most amazing place on Earth you've been to?

How to play

  1. Read the question and look at the pictures.
  2. Pick your answer before the timer runs out (or switch the timer off).
  3. See if you were right and read the fun fact.
Answers and fun facts (spoilers!)
  1. How well do you know our planet? How old is the Earth?
    4.5 billion years
    Earth formed about 4.5 billion years ago!
  2. About how much of Earth's surface is covered by water?
    About 71%
    About 71% of Earth's surface is water, mostly salty ocean.
  3. How much of Earth's water is fresh water?
    About 3%
    Only about 3% of Earth's water is fresh. The rest is salty!
  4. Where is most of Earth's fresh water?
    Ice and glaciers
    Most fresh water is locked up in ice sheets and glaciers.
  5. What causes the Northern Lights?
    Particles from the Sun
    Particles from the Sun hit our atmosphere and make the air glow!
  6. Where was the hottest air temperature on Earth officially recorded?
    Death Valley, USA
    Death Valley recorded 56.7 °C (134.1 °F) in 1913!
  7. Where was the coldest temperature on Earth's surface measured?
    Antarctica
    Vostok Station in Antarctica hit -89.2 °C (-128.6 °F)!
  8. What are the giant moving pieces of Earth's crust called?
    Tectonic plates
    Tectonic plates move a few centimeters a year, and cause earthquakes and volcanoes.
  9. The Ring of Fire, a belt of volcanoes, circles which ocean?
    Pacific
    Around three-quarters of Earth's active volcanoes are on the Ring of Fire!
  10. Which layer high in the sky protects us from harmful UV rays?
    Ozone layer
    The ozone layer absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet light.
  11. What do we call a scientist who studies volcanoes?
    Volcanologist
    Volcanologists sometimes wear heat-proof suits to get close to lava!
  12. How fast is the ground at the equator moving as Earth spins?
    About 1,670 km/h
    That's about 1,670 km/h (1,040 mph), and you don't feel a thing!
  13. How many oceans are there on Earth?
    5
    Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic.
  14. Which is the saltiest of the big oceans?
    Atlantic
    The Atlantic is saltier than the Pacific, partly because it loses lots of water to evaporation.
  15. What causes day and night?
    Earth spinning
    As Earth spins, your side turns toward the Sun, then away from it.
  16. What causes wind?
    Uneven heating
    Warm air rises and cooler air rushes in to replace it. That's wind!
  17. What is a glacier?
    A river of ice
    Glaciers flow downhill very slowly, carving out valleys as they go.
  18. About how much of Earth's land is desert?
    About a third
    About one-third of Earth's land is desert, including icy polar deserts!
  19. Which continent has no native reptiles?
    Antarctica
    It's far too cold in Antarctica for snakes or lizards!
  20. Where can the Sun stay up all night in summer?
    Arctic Circle
    North of the Arctic Circle, the Sun doesn't set for weeks in summer!
  21. Is Mount Everest still growing?
    Yes, a little
    Moving tectonic plates push Everest up by a few millimeters every year!
  22. About how often does lightning strike somewhere on Earth?
    44 times a second
    Lightning flashes about 44 times every second around the world!
  23. How long does Earth take to spin once compared to the stars?
    23 h 56 min
    One spin takes 23 h 56 min. The extra 4 minutes make our 24-hour solar day.
  24. What is it called when a river drops sand and mud where it meets the sea?
    A delta
    The word delta comes from the triangle-shaped Greek letter Δ!
  25. Earth isn't a perfect ball. Where does it bulge out?
    At the equator
    Earth's spin makes it bulge at the equator, by about 21 km (13 miles)!
  26. What is the largest rainforest on Earth?
    Amazon
    The Amazon covers much of South America.
  27. What is permafrost?
    Ground frozen for years
    Permafrost is ground that stays frozen for at least two years in a row.
  28. Why is the sky blue?
    Sunlight scatters
    Air scatters blue light from the Sun much more than red light, so blue fills the sky!
  29. What are the 'Roaring Forties'?
    Strong ocean winds
    Strong westerly winds blow between 40° and 50° south, once used by sailing ships.
  30. What is a monsoon?
    Seasonal rainy winds
    Monsoon winds bring a season of heavy rain to places like India.
  31. What do we call a green spot with water in a desert?
    An oasis
    An oasis is fed by underground water reaching the surface.
  32. What is the Gulf Stream?
    Warm ocean current
    The Gulf Stream carries warm water across the Atlantic, helping keep western Europe milder.
  33. Final question! If Earth's whole history were squeezed into one day, when would humans appear?
    Last 6 seconds
    Modern humans have been around about 300,000 years, which is only the last 6 seconds of Earth's day!