Thomas Edison's Job Interview Questions

When Thomas Edison hired new employees, he presented them with a 150-question quiz, containing different questions depending on the position. But often, the questions had nothing to do with the job; Edison just wanted to know how educated the applicant was. And sometimes there were other reasons behind the interrogation.
Who discovered the X-ray?
The obvious answer to this question is Wilhelm Röntgen, who, in 1895, famously noted the effects of a mysterious new kind of ray that appeared as a byproduct of his experiments with Crookes tubes. He called his discovery the “X ray,” to indicate its yet unknown properties, then went on to take a widely publicized X-ray print of the bones of his wife’s hand, and eventually won a Nobel prize in 1901 for his achievements. However, several other physicists made similar discoveries while experimenting with Crookes tubes around the same time. Among them: Nikola Tesla, Edison’s well-known rival. Edison had himself experimented with X-rays for a time, and was certainly aware of the variations in the X-ray origin story among his colleagues. This question suggests an eagerness to promote his preferred version.

Think you could pass his test? See a selection of the questions (and the answers) at mental_floss. Link

Comments (2)

Newest 2
Newest 2 Comments

Good for laughs, for sure!
Unfortunately, they sometimes put others in danger, too. Some of those people wandering around in the middle of sports events caused some damage to themselves as well as people who were moving pretty fast. Kind of stupid, really.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Email This Post to a Friend
"Thomas Edison's Job Interview Questions"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More