Physics MCQs
Physics Objective (Multiple Choice) General Knowledge & General Science Questions & Answers for SSC-CGL, UPPSC, NDA, CDS and all one day examinations of India.
1. India’s first Nobel Prize for Physics was claimed in 1930 by the renowned physicist Sir C.V. Raman for his work in which among the following fields?
[A] Particle Physics
[B] Optics
[C] Thermodynamics
[D] Quantum Mechanics
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Optics]
Notes:
In 1930, C.V. Raman became the first person from Asia to be awarded a Nobel Prize in any field of science. CV Raman made significant contributions to the field of optics. He is best known for his discovery of the Raman effect, which is the scattering of light by molecules. This phenomenon is now known as Raman scattering. The date of the discovery, February 28, is now celebrated as National Science Day in India.
2. Which of the following causes the drop of water to be in spherical shape?
[A] Viscosity
[B] Air resistance
[C] Surface tension
[D] Temperature
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Surface tension]
Notes:
Surface tension is the tendency of liquid surfaces to shrink into the minimum surface area possible. Surface tension allows insects, usually denser than water, to float and slide on a water surface. It is the reason for the water droplet’s round shape.
3. When two mercury drops are brought into contact they form a single bigger drop to get which of the following?
[A] Minimum volume
[B] Minimum surface area
[C] Maximum size
[D] Maximum surface area
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Minimum surface area]
Notes:
When two drops of mercury come into contact, they will tend to merge together and form a single drop with a minimum surface area. This is because of the properties of mercury, which is a liquid metal with a high surface tension. The surface tension of a liquid is a measure of its elasticity, and it is determined by the cohesive forces between the molecules of the liquid. In the case of mercury, the high surface tension causes the molecules at the surface of the liquid to be strongly attracted to each other, which results in the formation of a relatively smooth and spherical surface. When two drops of mercury are brought together, the surface tension causes them to merge and form a single drop with the smallest possible surface area. This phenomenon is known as the “minimization of surface area” and it is a common feature of liquids with high surface tension.
4. A person is standing in front of a wall and makes a sound. What should be the normal minimum distance between the person and the wall , so that the person hears echo?
[A] 6 meters
[B] 13 meters
[C] 20 meters
[D] 17 meters
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [17 meters]
Notes:
To hear an echo, the minimum distance between a wall and the source of sound is 17m. The minimum interval is 0.1 sec.
5. Two Flat mirrors are placed at an angle of 60° from each other. How many images will be formed of a Candle placed in between them?
[A] 3
[B] 4
[C] 5
[D] 6
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [5]
Notes:
If two flat mirrors are placed at an angle ø. Then number of images of an object placed between mirrors are = (360/ø) – 1 .
Here ø = 60
So, number of images of candle = (360/60) -1
SO there will be 5 images.
6. The pointer or arrow of the magnetized needle of a compass indicates which among the following?
[A] Geographic North Pole
[B] Magnetic North Pole
[C] Geo-magnetic North Pole
[D] Magnetic South Pole
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Magnetic South Pole]
Notes:
The north pole of a magnet in a compass points north because it is attracted to the Earth’s magnetic south pole, which is located near Earth’s geographic north pole. The geographic north pole of earth corresponds to magnetic south pole and geographic south pole of earth corresponds to magnetic north pole. The direction in which a compass needle points is known as magnetic north. This is not exactly the direction of the North Magnetic Pole. Instead, the compass aligns itself to the local geomagnetic field, which varies in a complex manner over the Earth’s surface. The angular difference between magnetic north and true north (defined in reference to the Geographic North Pole), at any particular location on the Earth’s surface, is called the magnetic declination. Most map coordinate systems are based on true north, and magnetic declination is often shown on map legends so that the direction of true north can be determined from north as indicated by a compass.
7. A pressure cooker on a stove with its lid tightly closed and the whistle in position is an example of:
[A] open system
[B] closed system
[C] isolated system
[D] adiabatic system
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ closed system]
Notes:
A pressure cooker on a stove with its lid tightly closed and the whistle in position is an example of a closed-system thermodynamic process. In a closed-system thermodynamic process, the container (in this case, the pressure cooker) is sealed, and there is no exchange of matter with the surroundings. The pressure cooker is designed to be airtight, so no air or steam can escape while it’s cooking. This sealed environment allows for the buildup of pressure and temperature inside the cooker, which, in turn, speeds up the cooking process.
8. Which of the following pairs represent two scalar quantities?
[A] Mass, Acceleration
[B] Temperature, Torque
[C] Distance, Speed
[D] Gravitational Intensity, Work
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Distance, Speed]
Notes:
The physical quantities which have only magnitude and no direction are called as Scalar quantities. Some examples of Scalar quantities: Work, Mass, Temperature, Distance, Speed.
9. The equation of motion ‘v = u +at’ can be applied in which of the following cases?
[A] simple harmonic motion
[B] circular motion
[C] when acceleration is constant
[D] Both b and c
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [when acceleration is constant]
Notes:
The equation of motion ‘v = u +at’ can be applied only when the acceleration is constant. It cannot be applied in the cases of simple harmonic motion and circular motion.
10. When one body is actually moving over the surface of other body, the friction is known as:
[A] Kinetic friction
[B] Limiting friction
[C] Static friction
[D] Negative friction
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kinetic friction]
Notes:
When one body is actually moving over the surface of other body, the friction is known as Kinetic friction. It is also known as dynamic friction.