Heading into the sun
The next world championship for solar-powered vehicles in Australia will be held in 2017. Technology has made great advances since the first world championship in 1987. thyssenkrupp’s role in it has been substantial. Test your knowledge here.
Question 1
Question 1 von 6
Approximately halfway between Darwin and Adelaide, participants of the competition will have a great view of one of Australia’s natural landmarks. What is it?
Answers
Question 1 von 6
Ayers Rock
Wave Rock
Blue Mountains
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Right
Correct! Ayers Rock is also known by its Aboriginal name ‘Uluru.’ The formation is a sacred place to the Anangu, a local group of Aboriginal people. It lies 470 kilometers southwest of Alice Springs, the center of the country’s Outback.
False
Correct! Ayers Rock is also known by its Aboriginal name ‘Uluru.’ The formation is a sacred place to the Anangu, a local group of Aboriginal people. It lies 470 kilometers southwest of Alice Springs, the center of the country’s Outback.
Unfortunately, no. This rock formation lies 350 kilometers east of Perth in Western Australia. At 15 meters in height and 110 meters in length, it’s shaped like a ‘wave’ of granite.
Incorrect. This mountain range is associated with the Great Dividing Range and is located along the eastern seaboard. It is home to numerous types of eucalyptus trees. It has been listed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2000.
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Question 2
Question 2 von 6
What is the capital of Australia?
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Question 2 von 6
Canberra
Sidney
Melbourne
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Right
Correct! Construction work began for an entirely planned city in 1913 when a stalemate between Melbourne and Sidney couldn’t be resolved. It is situated 150 kilometers inland on the eastern seaboard of Australia.
False
Correct! Construction work began for an entirely planned city in 1913 when a stalemate between Melbourne and Sidney couldn’t be resolved. It is situated 150 kilometers inland on the eastern seaboard of Australia.
Unfortunately, no. Sydney has 4.6 million inhabitants, making it the most populous city on the continent down-under. It is located in New South Wales on the eastern seaboard of Australia.
Incorrect. It is the capital of the state of Victoria and second most populous city in Australia. It was named after Lord Melbourne, British Prime Minister who served under Queen Victoria.
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Question 3
Question 3 von 6
How many climatic zones are there in Australia?
Answers
Question 3 von 6
Two
Four
One
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Right
Correct. The northern coast has a tropical climatic zone. The western and eastern coasts exhibit a subtropical climatic zone. The southern coast is marked by a milder climate. The Outback is characterized by a continental desert climate.
False
Incorrect, meaning that the smallest of all continents in the world could have more or fewer climatic zones.
Correct. The northern coast has a tropical climatic zone. The western and eastern coasts exhibit a subtropical climatic zone. The southern coast is marked by a milder climate. The Outback is characterized by a continental desert climate.
Unfortunately, no. Australia’s landmass stretches over 7.7 million square kilometers and has more than one climatic zone.
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Question 4
Question 4 von 6
The World Solar Challenge, the solar-powered car race, traverses the country covering a distance of 3,000 kilometers. What types of streets does it use?
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Question 4 von 6
byroads and rural streets
on a specially planned route for the race
public streets and roads
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Right
Correct. The idea behind the race is to prove the mettle of the vehicles in real-world situations, and drivers must obey traffic rules.
False
Sorry, this is the wrong answer.
Incorrect. The world championship has been held every two years since 1987, but its hosts have not gone to this expense yet.
Correct. The idea behind the race is to prove the mettle of the vehicles in real-world situations, and drivers must obey traffic rules.
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Question 5
Question 5 von 6
How are the vehicles charged during the race?
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Question 5 von 6
by recuperation and solar power
at charging stations along the race route, like at a pit stop
by generators during the breaks in racing
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Right
Correct. The solar panels installed on the vehicles are used to charge the battery. In addition, the energy released when the driver applies the brakes is converted into electricity.
False
Correct. The solar panels installed on the vehicles are used to charge the battery. In addition, the energy released when the driver applies the brakes is converted into electricity.
No. The drivers and copilots can only switch seats and pick up provisions at checkpoints along the route.
Incorrect. There is a rule stating that the solar-powered cars can only travel between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. But participants are not allowed to use external charging options.
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Question 6
Question 6 von 6
How many times has thyssenkrupp worked together with Bochum University and sent a solar-powered vehicle that was jointly developed to the race, including the one in 2017?
Answers
Question 6 von 6
2 times
3 times
1 time
Back to the question
Right
Correct. Next year will mark the third time (2013 and 2015) that thyssenkrupp is part of the development process for a solar-powered car.
False
Sorry, this is the wrong answer.
Correct. Next year will mark the third time (2013 and 2015) that thyssenkrupp is part of the development process for a solar-powered car.
Unfortunately, this is not correct. thyssenkrupp has sponsored the solar vehicle project for longer than that, providing funding and know-how.
To the results
Result
points
It appears that you aren’t particularly interested in Australia or alternative power for concept cars. Maybe you think that there’s no better place than here at home, and that new ideas are full of hype and everything should stay as it is. Just a little tidbit of information: That’s not the case, and it will not be the case in the future, either. Try taking the test again
You seem to have a good grasp of geography and enjoy traveling. Or you love cars and have a good handle on technology. Maybe you have a good mix of the two and have a good basic knowledge of things.
Were you a member of the SolarCar team, or did you just earn a Masters in Mechanical Engineering?
In any case, you know your stuff. And you’ve read up on Australia for your next vacation there!