Discover UPSC Prelims Topic Wise Questions covering miscellaneous topics in Physics. Dive into a diverse array of questions spanning various subfields, offering a comprehensive overview of fundamental concepts and applications. From electromagnetism to modern physics, quantum mechanics, and beyond, explore a wide range of topics essential for success in the UPSC Prelims examination. Each question is meticulously crafted to test your understanding and application of physics principles in practical scenarios. Whether you’re revising key concepts or seeking to deepen your knowledge, these topic-wise questions cater to aspirants at all levels of preparation. Strengthen your grasp of Physics and enhance your problem-solving skills with targeted practice and analysis. Start your journey towards mastering Physics for UPSC Prelims today and pave the way for a successful career in the civil services.
Q1. To which one of the following process is the term CMYK related? (2006)
(a) Railway signaling
(b) Navigation
(c) Offset printing
(d) Electronic voting machine
Ans. (c)
The term CMYK is associated with offset printing, representing a subtractive color model utilized in color printing and describing the printing process. CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (Black), though specifics can vary based on the print house, press operator, manufacturer, and press run. Inks are typically applied in the sequence of the abbreviation.
Q2. Which one of the following is printed on a commonly used fluorescent tube light? (2006)
(a) 220 K
(b) 273 K
(c) 6500 K
(d) 9000 K
Ans. (c)
The value “6500 K” is commonly printed on fluorescent tube lights. Additionally, the CIE standard Illuminant D65 is a widely used standard illuminant established by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE). It aims to simulate average daylight conditions and possesses a correlated color temperature of 6500 K.
Q3. What is the approximate mean velocity with which the Earth moves round the Sun in its orbit? (2006)
(a) 20 km/s
(b) 30 km/s
(c) 40 km/s
(d) 50 km/s
Ans. (b)
The Earth moves around the Sun in its orbit at an approximate mean velocity of 30 km/s (precisely 29.8 km/s). Earth is a rocky, terrestrial planet characterized by a solid and dynamic surface featuring mountains, valleys, and other geological formations. Additionally, water covers approximately 70% of Earth’s surface.
Q4. Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? (2006)
| Inventor | Invention |
| 1. Christopher Cockerell | Hovercraft |
| 2. David Bushnell | Submarine |
| 3. J C Perrier | Steamship |
Select the correct answer by using the codes given below
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 3
Ans. (a)
All pairs are accurately matched.
- Christopher Cockerell filed the patent for the Hovercraft on December 12, 1955. The Hovercraft is a vehicle capable of traveling over various surfaces such as land, water, mud, or ice at speed and while stationary.
- David Bushnell is indeed credited as the inventor of the submarine, which was first utilized during the American Revolution (1775-1783) to launch explosives against British ships.
- J.C. Perrier was associated with the inventions and development of the steamship in France around 1775. However, further advancements in steamship technology in France were impeded by the French Revolution.
Q5. Who among the following scientists shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with his son? (2008)
(a) Max Planck
(b) Albert Einstein
(c) William Henry Bragg
(d) Enrico Fermi
Ans. (c)
Sir William Henry Bragg and his son, Sir William Lawrence Bragg, indeed received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1915. They were the first and only father-son team to jointly receive the Nobel Prize. William Lawrence Bragg was awarded the Nobel Prize at the young age of 25 years, making him the youngest Nobel Laureate ever, a record he still holds.
Q6. Which of the following is/are cited by the scientists a evidence/evidences for the continued expansion of universe? (2012)
1 . Detection of microwaves in space.
2. Observation of red shift phenomenon in space.
3. Movement of asteroids in space.
4. Occurrence of supernova explosions in space.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) 1 and 2
(b) Only 2
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) None of the above can be cited as evidence
Ans. (a)
Both statements (1) and (2) are indeed correct.
The detection of microwaves and the observation of the redshift phenomenon in space are considered evidence for the ongoing expansion of the universe. Microwave radiation, believed to have originated from the Big Bang, serves as a measure of the average temperature of the universe, which has been cooling as it expands.
Hubble’s law and the Doppler effect are fundamental in this understanding. Scientists can measure the velocity of distant objects as they move either toward or away from Earth. As a source of light moves away from an observer, there is a velocity-dependent shift in both the wavelength and the frequency of the light. This shift toward longer wavelengths, or redshift, is used to measure the velocities at which galaxies are receding from the Milky Way and from each other, allowing for the calculation of the time required for the universe’s matter to have expanded from a point of infinite density.
Q7. Electrically charged particles from space travelling al speeds of several hundred km/s can severely harm living beings if they reach the surface of the Earth What prevents them from reaching the surface of the Earth? (2012)
(a) The Earth’s magnetic field diverts them towards its poles
(b) Ozone layer around the Earth reflects them back to outer space
(c) Moisture in the upper layers of atmosphere prevents them from reaching the surface of the Earth
(d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct
Ans. (a)
Electrically charged particles from space traveling at speeds of several hundred km/s can pose a severe threat to life on Earth. However, the Earth’s magnetic field acts as a protective shield. When these charged particles approach Earth, its magnetic field deflects them towards its poles, preventing them from reaching the surface.
The Earth’s magnetic field is generated by the motion of electrical charges, particularly circulating ions of iron and nickel in the highly conductive liquid region of Earth’s core. These circulating currents create magnetic loops, forming the Earth’s magnetic field. Most of the charged particles from space are diverted by this magnetic field. However, some particles that manage to penetrate into the atmosphere generate powerful electric currents that fluctuate in intensity.
Q8. A team of scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory including those from India created the heaviest anti-matter (anti-helium nucleus). What is/are the implication/ implications of the creation of anti-matter? (2012)
1. It will make mineral prospecting and oil exploration easier and cheaper.
2. It will help probe the possibility of the existence of stars and galaxies made of anti-matter.
3. It will help to understand the evolution of the universe.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) Only 1
(b) 2 and 3
(c) Only 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans. (b)
Statements (2) and (3) indeed describe implications of the creation of anti-matter.
In particle physics, anti-matter is an extension of the concept of anti-particles to matter, with anti-matter composed of anti-particles in the same way normal matter is composed of particles.
The STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at DOE’s Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York discovered the strongest form of anti-matter, called “anti-hypertriton.” This discovery has significant implications for understanding the universe’s evolution, the movement of the universe after the big bang, the composition of collapsed stars, and the matter-antimatter ratio in the early universe.
Statement (1) is incorrect because the creation of anti-matter does not facilitate mineral prospecting and oil exploration to become easier and cheaper.
Q9. The efforts to detect the existence of Higgs Boson particle have become frequent news in the recent past. What is/are the importance/importances of discovering this particle? (2013)
1. It will enable us to understand as to why elementary particles have mass.
2. It will enable us in the near future to develop the technology of transferring matter from one point to another without transversing, the physical space between them.
3. It will enable us to create better fuels for nuclear fission.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) Only 1
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) All of these
Ans. (a)
Statement (1) correctly highlights the importance of discovering the Higgs Boson particle, as it is a fundamental particle postulated by the standard model of physics to provide mass to all other particles in the universe.
Statements (2) and (3) are indeed not related to the importance of discovering the Higgs Boson particle. Discovering the Higgs Boson does not directly contribute to the development of technologies such as matter transfer without traversing physical space or the creation of better fuels for nuclear fission.
Q10 . Consider the following phenomena. (2018)
1. Light is affected by gravity.
2 . The universe is constantly expanding.
3. Matter warps its surrounding space – time. Which of the above is/are prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media?
a) 1 and 2
(b) Only 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans. (d)
Phenomena (1), (2), and (3) are indeed predictions of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, which are frequently discussed in the media.
- According to Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, light is affected by gravity in the same way that matter is affected. Gravity is not viewed as a force in the traditional sense, but rather as a consequence of the curvature of spacetime.
- Einstein’s theory serves as the foundation for the cosmological model of an expanding universe. The theory predicts a consistently expanding universe, which has been supported by observational evidence.
- General relativity encompasses Einstein’s Law of Gravity, offering an explanation for this fundamental force. According to Einstein, gravity arises from the curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of mass and energy.
Q11. Consider the following actions: (2023)
1. Detection of car crash/collision which results in the deployment of airbags almost instantaneously.
2. Detection of accidental free fall of a laptop towards the ground which results in the immediate turning off of the hard drive.
3. Detection of the tilt of the smart phone which results in the rotation of display between portrait and lanscape mode.
In how many of the above actions is the function of accelerometer required?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Ans. (c)
All three given actions indeed require the functionality of an accelerometer. Accelerometers are electro-mechanical devices designed to detect the acceleration of an object by measuring the vibrations experienced by the object. These vibrations, translated into changes in charge, are measured by the accelerometers.
Accelerometers find common applications in digital devices such as mobile phones and laptops, where they enable features like automatic screen orientation adjustment based on the device’s orientation. Additionally, accelerometers are used in vehicles to measure non-uniform acceleration, thereby triggering safety mechanisms like airbags in the event of a collision.
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