Concrete & Masonry History

About Concrete & Masonry History

Concrete & Masonry History is a free general knowledge quiz with 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 7 medium, 4 hard, 4 easy questions. Build your knowledge about the history and science of concrete and masonry construction! A typical run takes about 7 minutes, hints are always one tap away, and your streak ticks up the first time you finish a game on a given day.

A few sample questions

1. 1. The Romans developed a remarkably durable concrete using volcanic ash. What is this ash called?

   Answer: Pozzolana

   Roman concrete (opus caementicium) used pozzolana, volcanic ash from the area near Pozzuoli. Mixed with lime and seawater, it created a concrete so durable that Roman structures like the Pantheon still stand today after 2,000 years.

2. 2. Who patented Portland cement in 1824, the key ingredient in modern concrete?

   Answer: Joseph Aspdin

   Joseph Aspdin, a bricklayer from Leeds, England, patented Portland cement in 1824. He named it 'Portland' because the hardened cement resembled the prestigious Portland stone quarried on the Isle of Portland in Dorset.

3. 3. The Pantheon in Rome, built around 125 AD, has an unreinforced concrete dome that is still the largest of its kind. What is its interior diameter?

   Answer: 43 meters

   The Pantheon's dome has an interior diameter of 43.3 meters (142 feet), equal to its height. It remains the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome, a testament to Roman engineering excellence.

4. 4. What are the three basic ingredients in concrete?

   Answer: Cement, water, and aggregate (sand and gravel)

   Concrete is made by mixing cement (usually Portland cement), water, and aggregate (a combination of sand and gravel or crushed stone). The cement and water form a paste that binds the aggregate together as it hardens.

5. 5. What innovation did Joseph Monier, a French gardener, patent in 1867 that revolutionized construction?

   Answer: Reinforced concrete using iron mesh

   Joseph Monier patented reinforced concrete in 1867, initially to make stronger garden pots by embedding iron mesh in concrete. This combination of concrete (strong in compression) and iron/steel (strong in tension) transformed construction.

Things you'll learn along the way

• ✓Concrete contains cement, water, sand, and coarse aggregate (gravel or crushed stone), while mortar contains only cement, water, and fine sand. Mortar is used as a bonding agent between bricks or stones, not as a structural material.
• ✓The mortar used in sections of the Great Wall contained sticky rice (glutinous rice) flour mixed with calcium carbonate. The amylopectin in sticky rice made the mortar stronger and more water-resistant than plain lime mortar.
• ✓Curing is the process of maintaining adequate moisture, temperature, and time to allow concrete to reach its desired strength. Proper curing is essential because the chemical reaction (hydration) between cement and water needs water to continue.