The Evil Genius Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 This makes me sad. http://www.sfgate.com/technology/businessinsider/article/Here-s-The-Basic-Science-Question-That-1-in-4-5248649.php The Earth circles the sun once every year, but a startling 26% of Americans get this simple fact backward. They think that the sun orbits around the Earth. This shocking finding comes from a survey of more than 2,200 people in the United States, conducted by the National Science Foundation in 2012. The survey, done every two years, tests the public's knowledge of basic facts in the physical and biological sciences. The survey is included in a major federal report, Science and Engineering Indicators, prepared for the president and Congress. In 2012, Americans answered an average of 5.8 out of the survey's 9 questions correctly. That's a score of 65% — barely a passing grade. All of the questions on the survey are listed below. Take the quiz, then see how you compare to your fellow compatriots. MORE AFTER LINK ABOVE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Americans are stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 I missed #8..but then again, my science is political. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I got all 10 right and I hated science in school. Granted, these are more common sense than hard-core science anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popeman38 Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Yeesh. To not get a 90% is embarrassing. Good thing we came up with Common Core...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcsluggo Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 that sort of test usually tests the willingness, ability and patience of people to take tests, more than anyhting else, i bet if you went up to somebody and said "if you get 70% correct on this test, i will give you $10,000" i bet scores would skyrocket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 that sort of test usually tests the willingness, ability and patience of people to take tests, more than anyhting else, i bet if you went up to somebody and said "if you get 70% correct on this test, i will give you $10,000" i bet scores would skyrocket. That's probably true and it's a very good point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Idiots. The sun circles the Earth once a DAY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l7986 Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Dam that is embarassing. Anyone that got the Earth circling the Sun question wrong should be slapped upside the head with a stapler and then forced to repeat every science class they ever took. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 After reading those questions I'm going to assume people weren't paying attention while taking the test. That's all basic stuff that every high school grad should know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elessar78 Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 If you took the quiz you're going to hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 let me guess they polled Colorado Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcaigh Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 "The Earth circles the sun once every year" This is not entirely accurate. The Sun and the Earth orbit their center of mass, aka barycenter. And even this is an approximation, as the Earth actually orbits where the barycenter was about eight minutes ago as gravity propagates at approximately the speed of light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Idiots. The sun circles the Earth once a DAY. their wording left something to be desired...go round could apply but they probably figured orbit would confuse folk since the sun doesn't chew gum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadySkinsFan Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 100% for me. Then again, I went to school in the 50s and 60s when education was a real thing. Now, the only people who are educated are motivated to learn on their own after their lessons in school. But this basic stuff everyone should have been taught prior to 8th grade, or even in elementary school. twa, that was so funny! Orbit = chewing gum. Thanks for the laugh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcaigh Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 100% for me. Then again, I went to school in the 50s and 60s when education was a real thing. Now, the only people who are educated are motivated to learn on their own after their lessons in school. But this basic stuff everyone should have been taught prior to 8th grade, or even in elementary school. You learned about lasers and continental drift prior to 8th grade in the 50s and 60s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonniey Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 This makes me sad. http://www.sfgate.com/technology/businessinsider/article/Here-s-The-Basic-Science-Question-That-1-in-4-5248649.php The Earth circles the sun once every year, but a startling 26% of Americans get this simple fact backward. They think that the sun orbits around the Earth. This shocking finding comes from a survey of more than 2,200 people in the United States, conducted by the National Science Foundation in 2012. The survey, done every two years, tests the public's knowledge of basic facts in the physical and biological sciences. The survey is included in a major federal report, Science and Engineering Indicators, prepared for the president and Congress. In 2012, Americans answered an average of 5.8 out of the survey's 9 questions correctly. That's a score of 65% — barely a passing grade. All of the questions on the survey are listed below. Take the quiz, then see how you compare to your fellow compatriots. MORE AFTER LINK ABOVE What shocking is that people with college degrees only scored an average of 78% on these questions. On these questions, if your not getting 100% you need a refund from your college. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morneblade Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I'm not sure how anyone that got past middle school could miss one of those questions. Ok, unless they are hard core creationists. But it's really pretty sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 You learned about lasers and continental drift prior to 8th grade in the 50s and 60s? didn't everybody in the 60's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcaigh Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 didn't everybody in the 60's? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 No. why not? I recall discussion on the controversy about plate tectonics, lasers were old news as far as what they were what kinda elementary school did you go to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFromYellowstone Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 that sort of test usually tests the willingness, ability and patience of people to take tests, more than anyhting else, i bet if you went up to somebody and said "if you get 70% correct on this test, i will give you $10,000" i bet scores would skyrocket. I think you overestimate people. You know it or you don't, people aren't just impatient and forget the earth revolves around the sun. I have people challenge basic scientific principles on facebook with no evidence except "my friend told me". Doesn't matter if I link them to various reputable and unbiased sites yet it causes them to dig in even more sometimes. If people knew about the test in advance and could win money you can bet they'd study but a lot of people seriously don't know this stuff. If you saw my biology 1020 class you'd have a different perspective lol. It's a night class with majority working adults Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadySkinsFan Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 You learned about lasers and continental drift prior to 8th grade in the 50s and 60s? Certainly continental drift. Lasers in HS. I graduated in '69. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcaigh Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 lasers were old news as far as what they were Lasers were old news in the 50s and 60s? Lasers weren't even invented until the early 60s, so consider me skeptical that they immediately made it into your elementary school science curriculum. Certainly continental drift. Lasers in HS. I graduated in '69. I'd like to see a 1960s K-12 science text book featuring lasers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonniey Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Lasers were old news in the 50s and 60s? Lasers weren't even invented until the early 60s, so consider me skeptical that they immediately made it into your elementary school science curriculum. I'd like to see a 1960s K-12 science text book featuring lasers. They immediately made it into one of the top grossing films of the 1960s and were fairly self explanatory (although exagerated). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.