Inventions Trivia

220+ Best Inventions Trivia Questions & Answers

Mike Oberman

Updated: July 4th, 2023

Discover the fascinating world of inventions with over 300 trivia questions and answers that will challenge your knowledge and make you see everyday objects in a whole new light!

General Inventions Trivia

Question: The powered airship was invented by who?

Answer: Henri Giffard

Question: In 1960, which of these hair innovations appeared for the first time?

Answer: Hair spray

Question: The transistor was invented in which year?

Answer: 1947

Question: Which airborne device was Otto Skelk an early pioneer of?

Answer: The hang glider

Question: Flymo developed a machine based on a hovercraft used to cut what?

Answer: Grass

Question: The electric razor was invented in the United States in 1928 by who?

Answer: Jacob Schick

Question: The first motorcycle was built in what year?

Answer: 1885

Question: What was the nickname of Mexican restaraunter Ignacio Anaya, based on the dish he invented?

Answer: Nacho

Question: Which bit of computer equipment was invented by Douglas Engelbart?

Answer: Mouse

Question: While in Newgate Prison, which hygiene aid did William Addis invent?

Answer: Toothbrush

Question: What is the 'Cow in the Can' patented by John Meyenberg in 1884?

Answer: Evaporated milk

Question: Manufactured in the 1900s by Charles Fey the liberty bell is a what?

Answer: Slot machine

Question: David Brewster invented which swiftly changing pattern maker in 1816?

Answer: Kaleidoscope

Question: Marine engineer Robert Fulton invented and successfully trialed which type of transport in 1803?

Answer: Steamboat

Question: Angelo Mendez invented which drink?

Answer: Kola Champagne

Question: The zipper was invented by who?

Answer: Whitcomb L. Judson

Question: George G. Blaisdell invented which of these?

Answer: Zippo lighter

Question: In 1921 John Augustus Larson invented which type of detector?

Answer: Lie detector

Question: Which of these was invented after 1948?

Answer: Liquid paper

Question: Thomas Edison recited which nursery rhyme on the very first gramophone?

Answer: Mary Had a Little Lamb

Question: The first electrical generator was invented in which century?

Answer: 17th

Question: Analytical geometry was invented by which philosopher and mathematician?

Answer: Rene Descartes

Question: Who, known for a key role in the Mexican Revolution, invented Mexico's first semi-automatic rifle?

Answer: Manuel Mondragon

Question: Which inventor's last name literally means 'coloring flower' in Russian?

Answer: Mikhal Tsvet

Question: In 1970, what did Robert Moog invent?

Answer: Musical synthesizer

Question: In what year was the yo-yo invented?

Answer: 1928

Question: The Meccano construction system was created by which engineer and inventor?

Answer: Frank Hornby

Question: In which field was Henry Fox Talbot a 19th-century pioneer?

Answer: Photography

Question: Which motorists' annoyance was invented by Carl Magee in the United States in 1935?

Answer: Parking Meters

Question: The invention of the cat flap is accredited to which great scientist?

Answer: Isaac Newton

Question: The first MP3 player was invented by who?

Answer: Nathan Schulhof

Question: Charles Strite of Minnesota patented what breakfast device in 1919?

Answer: Pop-up toaster

Question: Which of these was invented by John Joseph Merlin in 1760?

Answer: Roller skate

Question: John Harvey Kellogg is a name synonymous with what?

Answer: Breakfast Cereals

Question: What can you use to take cash out of a bank?

Answer: ATM

Question: What did New Yorker Walter Hunt patent in the 1840s?

Answer: Safety pin

Question: William Painter invented which device found in every kitchen drawer and bar?

Answer: Bottle Opener

Question: Which inflatable life saver was invented by Assen Jordanoff?

Answer: Airbags

Question: What kind of bookkeeping was invented by Luca Pacioli?

Answer: Double Entry

Question: Which of these was invented and patented by Johan Edvard Lundstrom?

Answer: Safety match

Question: In which decade did Laszlo Biro invent the ballpoint pen?

Answer: 1930s

Question: What was the occupation of cotton candy machine inventor William Morrison?

Answer: Dentist

Question: What nationality was the inventor who patented the fountain pen in the 19th century?

Answer: Romanian

Question: Ivan Vucetic invented which kind of personal identification?

Answer: Fingerprinting

Question: Which scourge of motorists was invented by Frank Marugg?

Answer: Wheel Clamp

Question: Paul C. Fisher invented what?

Answer: The Space Pen

Question: Georges de Mestral invented which hoop and loop fastening system?

Answer: Velcro

Question: Hyman George Rickover invented which underwater device?

Answer: Nuclear Submarine

Question: Forrest Parry invented which item found on a credit card?

Answer: Magnetic Strip

Question: Joseph Shivers invented which elasticated fabric?

Answer: Spandex

Question: In which decade of the 20th century was the aerosol invented?

Answer: 40s

Question: Which of these do you particularly associate with James Dyson?

Answer: Vacuum cleaner

Question: Jules Montenier invented which product to make us all smell fresher?

Answer: Deodorant

Question: Which temperature gauge was invented by Evangelista Torricelli?

Answer: Barometer

Question: Friedrich Serturner discovered that which painkiller could be extracted from the opium poppy?

Answer: Morphine

Question: Which Australian inventor is responsible for the refrigerator?

Answer: James Harrison

Question: Which invention can be activated by clicking the heels together 3 times?

Answer: GPS Shoes

Question: Who invented a way of producing aluminum?

Answer: Charles Hall

Question: Douglas Engelbart invented which piece of computer hardware?

Answer: The Mouse

Question: The Synthetic Diamond was invented by who?

Answer: Tracy Hall

Question: Who invented the vacuum flask?

Answer: James Dewar

Question: Cai Lun from China is credited with inventing which global necessity?

Answer: Paper

Question: Which of these inventions was patented by George Eastman?

Answer: Roll film

Question: When was the first Kodak camera invented?

Answer: 1888

Question: Joseph Shivers invented which elasticated fabric?

Answer: Spandex

Question: The Synthetic Diamond was invented by who?

Answer: Tracy Hall

Inventors in History Trivia

Question: Samuel Morse, who invented Morse code, was of what nationality?

Answer: American

Question: Robert Watson-Watt earned a knighthood for which wartime invention?

Answer: Radar

Question: In the name of Mexican inventor Luis E. Miramotes, what does the 'E' Stand for?

Answer: Ernesto

Question: Thomas Edison recited which nursery rhyme on the very first gramophone?

Answer: Mary Had a Little Lamb

Question: Analytical geometry was invented by which philosopher and mathematician?

Answer: Rene Descartes

Question: Who, known for a key role in the Mexican Revolution, invented Mexico's first semi-automatic rifle?

Answer: Manuel Mondragon

Question: Which inventor's last name literally means 'coloring flower' in Russian?

Answer: Mikhal Tsvet

Question: In 1970, what did Robert Moog invent?

Answer: Musical synthesizer

Question: The Meccano construction system was created by which engineer and inventor?

Answer: Frank Hornby

Question: In which field was Henry Fox Talbot a 19th-century pioneer?

Answer: Photography

Question: The invention of the cat flap is accredited to which great scientist?

Answer: Isaac Newton

Question: The first MP3 player was invented by who?

Answer: Nathan Schulhof

Question: Charles Strite of Minnesota patented what breakfast device in 1919?

Answer: Pop-up toaster

Question: John Harvey Kellogg is a name synonymous with what?

Answer: Breakfast Cereals

Question: What can you use to take cash out of a bank?

Answer: ATM

Question: What did New Yorker Walter Hunt patent in the 1840s?

Answer: Safety pin

Question: William Painter invented which device found in every kitchen drawer and bar?

Answer: Bottle Opener

Question: What kind of bookkeeping was invented by Luca Pacioli?

Answer: Double Entry

Question: Which of these was invented and patented by Johan Edvard Lundstrom?

Answer: Safety match

Question: In which decade did Laszlo Biro invent the ballpoint pen?

Answer: 1930s

Question: What was the occupation of cotton candy machine inventor William Morrison?

Answer: Dentist

Question: What nationality was the inventor who patented the fountain pen in the 19th century?

Answer: Romanian

Question: Ivan Vucetic invented which kind of personal identification?

Answer: Fingerprinting

Question: Which scourge of motorists was invented by Frank Marugg?

Answer: Wheel Clamp

Question: Paul C. Fisher invented what?

Answer: The Space Pen

Question: Georges de Mestral invented which hoop and loop fastening system?

Answer: Velcro

Question: Hyman George Rickover invented which underwater device?

Answer: Nuclear Submarine

Question: Forrest Parry invented which item found on a credit card?

Answer: Magnetic Strip

Question: Joseph Shivers invented which elasticated fabric?

Answer: Spandex

Question: In which decade of the 20th century was the aerosol invented?

Answer: 40s

Question: Which of these do you particularly associate with James Dyson?

Answer: Vacuum cleaner

Question: Jules Montenier invented which product to make us all smell fresher?

Answer: Deodorant

Question: Which temperature gauge was invented by Evangelista Torricelli?

Answer: Barometer

Question: Friedrich Serturner discovered that which painkiller could be extracted from the opium poppy?

Answer: Morphine

Question: Which Australian inventor is responsible for the refrigerator?

Answer: James Harrison

Question: Which invention can be activated by clicking the heels together 3 times?

Answer: GPS Shoes

Question: Who invented a way of producing aluminum?

Answer: Charles Hall

Question: Douglas Engelbart invented which piece of computer hardware?

Answer: The Mouse

Question: The Synthetic Diamond was invented by who?

Answer: Tracy Hall

Question: Who invented the vacuum flask?

Answer: James Dewar

Question: Cai Lun from China is credited with inventing which global necessity?

Answer: Paper

Question: Which of these inventions was patented by George Eastman?

Answer: Roll film

Question: When was the first Kodak camera invented?

Answer: 1888

Question: Joseph Shivers invented which elasticated fabric?

Answer: Spandex

Question: The Synthetic Diamond was invented by who?

Answer: Tracy Hall

Pivotal Inventions Trivia

Question: The first plastic invented was what?

Answer: Celluloid

Question: Which scientific instrument did Robert Bunsen invent?

Answer: Bunsen burner

Question: Venetian blinds were invented where?

Answer: Japan

Question: George Eastman invented what type of camera?

Answer: Box Camera

Question: Who is the invention of the light bulb credited to?

Answer: Thomas Edison

Question: Who were Kenwood food mixers invented by?

Answer: Ken Wood

Question: Who invented the wireless in 1901?

Answer: Guglielmo Marconi

Question: In which country were Phonecards invented?

Answer: Italy

Question: Which innovation was added to bicycles in 1839?

Answer: Pedals

Question: Alexander Graham Bell invented which of these?

Answer: Telephones

Question: John Logie Baird's first successful invention was what?

Answer: Socks to prevent sweaty feet

Question: Invented in Japan, what is a Wadokei?

Answer: Watch

Question: In 1589 John Harington invented what?

Answer: Toilet

Question: Hans Jansen invented which of these instruments?

Answer: Microscope

Question: Which of these appliances was invented in 1679?

Answer: Pressure Cooker

Question: The Pentel company invented what type of pen?

Answer: Felt tips

Question: Scissors were invented by who?

Answer: Leonardo da Vinci

Question: The ZX80, ZX81 and Spectrum were invented by who?

Answer: Clive Sinclair

Question: Andre and Edouard Michelin developed what?

Answer: Tyres

Question: Thomas Edison's first practical invention was what?

Answer: Ticker tape

Question: Nachos were invented in which restaurant chain?

Answer: El Moderno

Question: Walter Hunt invented which of these?

Answer: Safety pin

Question: The Montgolfier brothers invented what?

Answer: Hot air balloon

Question: The chemist Alfred Bird invented which of these foods?

Answer: Instant custard

Question: Which of these was invented by Percy Shaw?

Answer: Cats eyes

Question: Adolf Gaston Eugen Fick invented what in the 1880s?

Answer: Contact lenses

Question: Samuel Colt invented which of these?

Answer: Revolver

Question: Who invented Kenwood food mixers?

Answer: Ken Wood

Question: Who was the food processor invented by?

Answer: Ken Wood

Question: Humphry Davy invented what in the early 19th century?

Answer: Safety lamp

Question: Who invented vulcanised rubber?

Answer: Charles Goodyear

Question: Johannes Gutenberg famously invented the what?

Answer: Printing press

Question: Edwin H. Land invented what snappy device in 1947?

Answer: Polaroid Camera

Question: Isaac Singer's invention can be used for what?

Answer: Sewing

Question: Joseph Swan and Thomas Edison both worked on which invention on each side of the Atlantic?

Answer: Lightbulb

Famous Inventors Trivia

Question: John Logie Baird's first successful invention was what?

Answer: Socks to prevent sweaty feet

Question: Invented in Japan, what is a Wadokei?

Answer: Watch

Question: In 1589 John Harington invented what?

Answer: Toilet

Question: Hans Jansen invented which of these instruments?

Answer: Microscope

Question: The Pentel company invented what type of pen?

Answer: Felt tips

Question: Scissors were invented by who?

Answer: Leonardo da Vinci

Question: The ZX80, ZX81 and Spectrum were invented by who?

Answer: Clive Sinclair

Question: Andre and Edouard Michelin developed what?

Answer: Tyres

Question: Nachos were invented in which restaurant chain?

Answer: El Moderno

Question: Walter Hunt invented which of these?

Answer: Safety pin

Question: The Montgolfier brothers invented what?

Answer: Hot air balloon

Question: The chemist Alfred Bird invented which of these foods?

Answer: Instant custard

Question: Which of these was invented by Percy Shaw?

Answer: Cats eyes

Question: Adolf Gaston Eugen Fick invented what in the 1880s?

Answer: Contact lenses

Question: Samuel Colt invented which of these?

Answer: Revolver

Question: Who invented Kenwood food mixers?

Answer: Ken Wood

Question: Who was the food processor invented by?

Answer: Ken Wood

Question: Humphry Davy invented what in the early 19th century?

Answer: Safety lamp

Question: Who invented vulcanised rubber?

Answer: Charles Goodyear

Question: Johannes Gutenberg famously invented the what?

Answer: Printing press

Question: Edwin H. Land invented what snappy device in 1947?

Answer: Polaroid Camera

Question: Isaac Singer's invention can be used for what?

Answer: Sewing

Question: Joseph Swan and Thomas Edison both worked on which invention on each side of the Atlantic?

Answer: Lightbulb

Question: Who invented the Airwrap hair styler?

Answer: Dyson

Question: Who invented the reflecting telescope?

Answer: Isaac Newton

Question: Who invented the wireless telegraph?

Answer: Marconi

Question: Who invented the Polaroid Camera?

Answer: Edwin H. Land

Question: Who invented the phonograph, electric light bulb, and microphone?

Answer: Thomas Edison

Question: Who invented the ballpoint pen?

Answer: Laszlo Biro

Question: Who invented the pacemaker?

Answer: Wilson Greatbatch

Question: Who invented the computer?

Answer: Charles Babbage

Question: Who invented the microwave?

Answer: Percy Spencer

Question: Who invented the seed drill?

Answer: Jethro Tull

Invention Dates Trivia

Question: The first SMS text was sent in which year?

Answer: 1992

Question: Ride-sharing company Uber was founded in which year?

Answer: 2009

Question: When was the first submarine built?

Answer: 1620

Question: When was plywood invented?

Answer: 3500 BC

Question: The first device containing semiconductors was made in which year?

Answer: 1947

Question: Netflix was founded in which year?

Answer: 1997

Question: The surname of the inventor of the pin tumbler lock was what?

Answer: Yale

Question: Credit cards were first issued in the UK in which year?

Answer: 1966

Question: The invention of the Spinning Jenny revolutionized the processing of which crop?

Answer: Cotton

Question: X-Rays were discovered by a scientist in which country?

Answer: Germany

Question: In which decade were drones invented?

Answer: 1990s

Question: Which company first released the Photoshop software in 1990?

Answer: Adobe

Question: The world's first cinema screenings took place in which European city?

Answer: Paris

Question: Credit cards were first issued in the UK in which year?

Answer: 1966

Question: Which year saw the introduction of e-cigarettes?

Answer: 2006

Question: The first postage stamp introduced in the 1940s was called the Penny what?

Answer: Black

Question: The centigrade temperature scale was invented by who?

Answer: Celsius

Question: The phonograph is another invention credited to who?

Answer: Thomas Edison

Question: Which company invented the Airwrap hair styler?

Answer: Dyson

Question: Which company first released the Photoshop software in 1990?

Answer: Adobe

Question: Netflix was founded in which year?

Answer: 1997

Question: When was the first Macintosh computer launched?

Answer: 1980s

Question: In which decade were drones invented?

Answer: 1990s

Miscellaneous Inventions Trivia

Question: The first ballpoint pen was invented in which century?

Answer: 19th

Question: A daguerreotype is an early type of what?

Answer: Photograph

Question: The first diesel locomotive was built when?

Answer: 1912

Question: Which of these was invented first?

Answer: Mangle

Question: Which game was invented by Alfred Mosher Butts in 1941?

Answer: Scrabble

Question: Fireworks were invented in which country?

Answer: China

Question: Aerosol sprays were invented in which century?

Answer: 20th

Question: Charles Babbage famously invented what?

Answer: Computer

Question: In which year did Charles Babbage invent the first mechanical computer?

Answer: 1822

Question: Which kitchen invention was originally called the Magnetron?

Answer: Microwave

Question: Samuel F. B. Morse invented which communication method using dots and dashes?

Answer: Morse Code

Question: Which soda was invented by Charles Leiper Grigg?

Answer: 7 Up

Question: The telegraph was invented by who?

Answer: Samuel F. B. Morse

Question: The surname of the inventor of the pin tumbler lock was what?

Answer: Yale

Question: The phonograph is another invention credited to who?

Answer: Thomas Edison