Ballpark — October 14, 2026
Answers to that day's 5 daily estimation questions.
About how hot can a lightning bolt get compared to the surface of the Sun?
~50,000 °F
Lightning can be several times hotter than the Sun’s surface.
About how many inches does human hair grow in a year on average?
~6 inches/year
Hair grows about half an inch per month on average.
About how many words are in a typical novel?
~80,000 words
Many novels fall in the 70,000–100,000 word range.
About how many grams of table salt are in one teaspoon?
6 g
A teaspoon of salt is heavier than sugar—often around 6 grams.
What is the voltage of a standard AA battery?
1.5 V
Most disposable AA batteries are rated at 1.5 volts.