Ralph Samuelson was only 18 years old when, in 1922, he invented which now popular water based sporting item?

Introduction / Context:

This question falls under inventions related to sports and recreation. Many common sports equipment items were introduced by individual enthusiasts before becoming mainstream. Ralph Samuelson is a name linked specifically to the early development of water sports. The question testes whether you can correctly connect his name, his age and the year 1922 with the sporting item he helped create and popularise.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The inventor is Ralph Samuelson, who was 18 years old at the time.
• The year of the invention is 1922.
• The item is a sporting device, especially associated with water or outdoor activities.
• The options list several recreational items such as a golf tee, motorboat, water skis, hang glider and surfboard.

Concept / Approach:

Ralph Samuelson is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of water skiing. In 1922, on Lake Pepin in the United States, he experimented with wooden boards and towing behind a boat until he successfully skied on water. Because of these successful experiments and demonstrations, he is often credited as the inventor of water skis. Other listed items such as motorboats and golf tees were developed by different inventors and in different time periods, so they do not match the details given in the question.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Historical summaries of water skiing and sports history books often mention Ralph Samuelson as the first person to successfully ski on water using boards, leading to the design of water skis. They also mention the early 1920s as the period of these experiments, which confirms that the combination of Samuelson and 1922 points to water skis rather than any other sports equipment.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

The golf tee, a small support for placing a golf ball, was in use before Samuelson s time and is not connected to his name or experiments.

The motorboat is a powered boat used in various activities including towing skiers, but its invention predates Samuelson and he is not credited with creating it.

Hang gliders are flying devices used for gliding through the air, not on water, and their development is linked to aviation pioneers rather than Samuelson.

The surfboard is used for surfing ocean waves without being towed and has a separate cultural and historical development in places like Hawaii.

Common Pitfalls:

Some candidates may confuse water skiing with other water activities and thus think of motorboats or surfboards. However, the question specifically mentions an item invented by Samuelson, a person remembered for standing on boards towed by a boat. Distinguishing between the vehicle (boat) and the sporting equipment (skis) helps avoid this confusion.

Final Answer:

The sporting item invented by Ralph Samuelson in 1922 is water skis.