Thomas Edison Trivia Quiz

Thomas Edison was one of the greatest inventors and industrial leaders of American history. Let's see how much you know about this man who has left his mark on the world.

A multiple-choice quiz by heintz57. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
heintz57

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
174,643

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1521

Last 3 plays: Guest 82 (2/10), Guest 204 (2/10), Guest 184 (8/10).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. When was Thomas Edison born? Hint

Dec. 30, 1846

Aug. 27, 1848

May 6, 1847

Feb. 11, 1847

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2. What is Thomas Edison's middle name? Hint

Robert

Allen

Adam

Alva

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3. Which one of these inventions did Edison not discover or help improve? Hint

light bulb

telephone

phonograph

radio

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4. When did Thomas Edison die? Hint

Oct. 18, 1931

Jun. 27, 1930

Mar. 1, 1931

Sept. 30, 1932

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5. At what age did Edison become a telegraph operator? Hint

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6. In 1876, Edison built his famous laboratory in Menlo Park. In which U.S. state is Menlo Park? Hint

New York

Washington

Wisconsin

New Jersey

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7. In 1879, Edison successfully tested the incandescent light. What did he use for a filament? Hint

burned sewing thread

hair from a horse tail

copper wire

bamboo

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8. What is the name of Edison's motion picture invention? Hint

film

moviescope

phonoscope

kinetoscope

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9. When did Edison marry his first wife Mary Stilwell? Hint

May 30, 1873

Dec. 25, 1871

Feb. 14, 1872

Nov. 5, 1870

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10. Edison's second wife (Mina Miller) had three kids with him: Madeleine, Charles, and Theodore. Which of these children became the most famous?

Answer: (One Word)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When was Thomas Edison born?

Answer: Feb. 11, 1847

Thomas was born on Feb. 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio. He was the youngest of seven children. Samuel and Nancy Edison were Thomas' parents.

2. What is Thomas Edison's middle name?

Answer: Alva

Al was his nickname within the family.

3. Which one of these inventions did Edison not discover or help improve?

Answer: radio

After making improvements to the telegraph, Edison started research on a "speaking telegraph" or what became known as the telephone. He was not the only one who experimented with this device; Edison improved the telephone by making it easier to hear the person on the other end.
Thomas invented the phonograph in 1877. The phonograph was a device used to record and play back messages sent over the telegraph and telephone.
In 1878, Edison began important research on electric lighting. He saw a demonstration of a carbon arc light that was really bright. So, Edison started to work an incandescent light, which would be less bright, for everyday use. In 1879, Edison tested a carbon filament made from burned sewing thread and it worked.

4. When did Thomas Edison die?

Answer: Oct. 18, 1931

He died in bed from a severe illness. Edison was honored throughout the world for his invention and for his impact on the world.

5. At what age did Edison become a telegraph operator?

Answer: 15

Edison become a telegraph operator because he saved a telegraph operator's son from the path of a railroad car. As a reward, the operator gave him free telegraph lessons - which started Edison on his way of becoming one of the greatest men in history.

6. In 1876, Edison built his famous laboratory in Menlo Park. In which U.S. state is Menlo Park?

Answer: New Jersey

This was the first laboratory built for Edison. This is where he did his research on the telephone, phonograph and other great inventions.
Menlo Park was located in the Raritan township.

7. In 1879, Edison successfully tested the incandescent light. What did he use for a filament?

Answer: burned sewing thread

Edison made the filament for the light bulb from burned sewing thread, which produced a light that wasn't as bight as the carbon arc light. Later Edison began to use bamboo filaments.

8. What is the name of Edison's motion picture invention?

Answer: kinetoscope

The kinetoscope was a machine where you put in a coin, look through a peephole in a cabinet, and watch a short motion picture.

9. When did Edison marry his first wife Mary Stilwell?

Answer: Dec. 25, 1871

Mary and Edison had three children: Marion Estelle, Thomas Alva Jr., and William Leslie. Edison nicknamed Marion and Tom "Dot" and "Dash" after the telegraph code. In 1884 Mary died. A year later Edison got remarried Mina Miller.

10. Edison's second wife (Mina Miller) had three kids with him: Madeleine, Charles, and Theodore. Which of these children became the most famous?

Answer: Charles

Charles became the most famous because Edison left all of his administrative work to Charles. He also was a secretary of the U.S. Navy and Governor of New Jersey.

Source: Author heintz57

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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