Christmas Winter Science

Snow Crystals

1. 100 What falling ice crystal is large enough to descend as snow? Response: snowflake A snowflake is a single ice crystal that is large enough to fall through the Earth's atmosphere as snow. Source: Wikipedia, “Snowflake”
2. 200 Which substance forms the crystal itself? Response: ice A snowflake is a single ice crystal that is large enough to fall through the Earth's atmosphere as snow. Source: Wikipedia, “Snowflake”
3. 300 A snowflake forms around a tiny particle. What is that particle called? Response: nucleus Each flake begins by forming around a tiny particle, called its nucleus, accumulating water droplets, which freeze and slowly form a crystal. Source: Wikipedia, “Snowflake”
4. 400 Which two atmospheric conditions help produce complex shapes? Response: temperature and humidity Complex shapes emerge as the flake moves through differing temperature and humidity zones in the atmosphere, and possibly combines with other snowflakes. Source: Wikipedia, “Snowflake”
5. 500 Into how many broad classifications can snowflakes be sorted? Response: eight However, they may be categorized in eight broad classifications and at least 80 individual variants. Source: Wikipedia, “Snowflake”

Reindeer Biology

1. 100 Which deer species is also called caribou? Response: reindeer The reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. Source: Wikipedia, “Reindeer”
2. 200 What is the reindeer's scientific name? Response: Rangifer tarandus The reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. Source: Wikipedia, “Reindeer”
3. 300 What distribution term describes a range around the polar regions? Response: circumpolar The reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. Source: Wikipedia, “Reindeer”
4. 400 Reindeer are native to which three broad regions of the world? Response: Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America The reindeer or caribou (Rangifer tarandus) is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. Source: Wikipedia, “Reindeer”
5. 500 Can female reindeer have antlers? Response: females may have antlers They are unique among deer (Cervidae) in that females may have antlers, although the prevalence of antlered females varies by subspecies. Source: Wikipedia, “Reindeer”

Solstice Light

1. 100 Which event occurs when a pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun? Response: winter solstice The winter solstice, or hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun. Source: Wikipedia, “Winter solstice”
2. 200 Besides winter solstice, what other adjective names the December solstice in the north? Response: hibernal The winter solstice, or hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun. Source: Wikipedia, “Winter solstice”
3. 300 On the December solstice in the north, how do daylight and darkness compare? Response: shortest daylight and longest night For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, and when the Sun is at its lowest arc in the sky. Source: Wikipedia, “Winter solstice”
4. 400 Which opposite seasonal event occurs simultaneously in the other hemisphere? Response: summer solstice The opposite event is the summer solstice, which happens at the same time in the opposite hemisphere. Source: Wikipedia, “Winter solstice”
5. 500 On which dates does the winter solstice fall in each hemisphere? Response: December 21 or 22 in the north and June 20 or 21 in the south In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the December solstice (December 21 or 22) and in the Southern Hemisphere, this is the June solstice (June 20 or 21). Source: Wikipedia, “Winter solstice”

Evergreen and Deciduous

1. 100 What botanical label describes a plant with year-round green foliage? Response: evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. Source: Wikipedia, “Evergreen”
2. 200 Which plant structure remains green and functional? Response: foliage In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. Source: Wikipedia, “Evergreen”
3. 300 An evergreen keeps its leaves green and working for how long? Response: throughout the year In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. Source: Wikipedia, “Evergreen”
4. 400 Which contrasting plant group loses all of its foliage? Response: deciduous plants This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Source: Wikipedia, “Evergreen”
5. 500 Deciduous plants lose their leaves in winter or during which other season? Response: dry season This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Source: Wikipedia, “Evergreen”

Candle Materials

1. 100 What object embeds an ignitable wick in wax or another flammable solid? Response: candle A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance. Source: Wikipedia, “Candle”
2. 200 Besides wax, which solid animal fat can a candle be made from? Response: tallow A candle is an ignitable wick embedded in wax, or another flammable solid substance such as tallow, that provides light, and in some cases, a fragrance. Source: Wikipedia, “Candle”
3. 300 Which wax were some early candles made from? Response: beeswax Some early candles were made of beeswax, but these candles were expensive and their use was limited to the elite and the churches. Source: Wikipedia, “Candle”
4. 400 Why were some early wax candles used only by the elite and the churches? Response: the candles were expensive Some early candles were made of beeswax, but these candles were expensive and their use was limited to the elite and the churches. Source: Wikipedia, “Candle”
5. 500 Which wax, made from petroleum, is used for many modern candles? Response: paraffin wax In the modern era, various materials have been developed for candle making, including paraffin wax. Source: Wikipedia, “Candle”

Final round: Seasonal Light

This solstice produces the shortest daylight and longest night in the affected hemisphere. Response: winter solstice For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, and when the Sun is at its lowest arc in the sky. Source: Wikipedia, “Winter solstice”