Jack Kilby — Questions and answers

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What did Jack Kilby hold in his hand in the summer of 1958?

Choices

  1. A sliver of germanium ✓
  2. A tiny computer
  3. A telephone
  4. A large magnet

Answer: A sliver of germanium

From page 1

What problem did Jack Kilby see with communication technology when he was young?

Choices

  1. Telephone lines falling down in ice storms ✓
  2. Too many people using telephones
  3. Telephones being too big
  4. Telephones making strange noises

Answer: Telephone lines falling down in ice storms

From page 2

Why was Jack Kilby alone in the lab during the summer of 1958?

Choices

  1. His colleagues were on vacation ✓
  2. He was grounded
  3. He wanted to be alone
  4. He was hiding

Answer: His colleagues were on vacation

From page 3

What did Jack Kilby spend weeks doing while alone?

Choices

  1. Sketching designs and doing calculations ✓
  2. Playing games
  3. Watching movies
  4. Cleaning the lab

Answer: Sketching designs and doing calculations

From page 4

How did Kilby's colleagues and superiors first react to his idea for an integrated circuit?

Choices

  1. They were skeptical ✓
  2. They were excited
  3. They were confused
  4. They were angry

Answer: They were skeptical

From page 5

What material did Jack Kilby use for his first integrated circuit?

Choices

  1. Germanium ✓
  2. Silicon
  3. Gold
  4. Plastic

Answer: Germanium

From page 6

What happened when Jack Kilby connected power to his integrated circuit?

Choices

  1. The oscilloscope screen showed a perfect wave ✓
  2. The lights turned off
  3. Smoke came out
  4. Nothing happened

Answer: The oscilloscope screen showed a perfect wave

From page 7

What did Texas Instruments do after Jack Kilby's integrated circuit was successful?

Choices

  1. They filed a patent for his invention ✓
  2. They gave him a big party
  3. They told him to make more
  4. They asked him to leave

Answer: They filed a patent for his invention

From page 8

What important award did Jack Kilby receive in 2000?

Choices

  1. The Nobel Prize in Physics ✓
  2. A gold medal for swimming
  3. An award for best inventor
  4. A prize for painting

Answer: The Nobel Prize in Physics

From page 10