SAMPLE: History

Film Science: Questions for Thunder in the Sky

Background: The results of chemical accidents can sometimes be difficult to predict because of unexpected reactions that may occur. And, if reaction rates are high, the outcome can be catastrophic.

1. Why has Halifax been a busy port for so much of its history?

2. What divides the harbour into the inner and outer sections?

3. Why was the inner harbour important during the Second World War?

4. How did the busy harbour affect the social and economic conditions of Halifax around 1917?

5. Why was the Mont Blanc in a hurry to enter the harbour on December 6, 1917?

6. a) As the Emo set sail, it intended to take what route out of the harbour?

b) What put it off course?

c) What should have been the path of the Mont Blanc?

7. How did the lack of harbour pilots affect the situation?

8. a) Drums of what liquid on the Mont Blanc's deck were ruptured in the collision?

b) What set the liquid ablaze?

9. Comment on the attempts were made to extinguish the flames.

10. a) The fire on the Mont Blanc burned for how long before the explosion?

b) What was the evidence the fire was a chemical reaction?

c) What evidence would tell us its rate?

11. a) The explosion gave what evidence is was also a chemical reaction?

b) And what evidence would tell us its rate?

12. The cloud from the explosion ascended to what height above the city?

13. Was the damage uniform across the city?

14. List some common injuries suffered by the citizens of Halifax.

15. Why was receiving medical treatment such a problem?

16. Help soon began arriving from where?

17. What happened to a 1 140 lb segment of the Mont Blanc's anchor shaft?

18. The condition of the anchor and some hull plating tell us what about the power of the explosion?

19. What was the Emo's eventual fate?