The Sinking of the Titanic Trivia Questions

The binoculars were locked in a storage box, and the key was mistakenly taken by a departing officer. Lookouts relied on naked eyes, which may have delayed spotting the iceberg.

The water was 28°F, causing hypothermia within minutes. Most deaths were from cold shock and hypothermia, not drowning, as victims lost consciousness quickly.

All 20 lifeboats were launched, but many were only partially filled. The myth of half-launched boats stems from confusion over the number of collapsible boats that floated off the deck.

Multiple survivors recalled music, but the specific hymn was only reported later by a few. The band likely played ragtime and popular tunes to calm passengers.

The original design included 48 lifeboats, but the White Star Line reduced it to 20, partly because the ship was considered unsinkable and extra boats cluttered the deck.

Modern tests show the steel was brittle in cold water, but it did not shatter. The hull plates ripped open along rivet seams due to the force, not sudden shattering.

The Californian's wireless operator was off duty, but the flares were seen by crew. They misinterpreted them as company signals, not distress. This myth exaggerates the crew's negligence.

The wireless operators first sent 'CQD' (the older Marconi distress call) and then, jokingly, tried the newer 'SOS' code. It was one of the first uses of SOS in history.