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. Steam at 100 degree centigrade causes more severe burns. Which of the following phenomena will you use to explain this?
[A] Specific heat
[B] Latent heat
[C] Fusion
[D] Fission
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Latent heat]
Notes:
Latent heat is energy released or absorbed, by a body or a thermodynamic system, during a constant-temperature process. So steam at 100 degree centigrade causes more severe burns.
2. Which of these is in action in the process of a liquid rising in the syringe when the piston is pulled up?
[A] Capillary action
[B] surface tension
[C] atmospheric pressure
[D] cohesive forces
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Correct Answer: C [atmospheric pressure]
Notes:
Atmospheric pressure is the force that causes liquid to rise in a syringe when the piston is pulled up. When the syringe is placed with its opening in a liquid and the plunger is pulled up, the air pressure inside the barrel becomes much less than the atmospheric pressure acting on the liquid. Fluids flow from a high pressure area to a low pressure area. Once the pressure inside the syringe is lower than the pressure outside the syringe, the fluid will flow into the syringe.
3. A person weighing 80 Kg. is standing on an accurate scale in an elevator. The elevator is slowing down while moving downwards. In this case the scale will read__?
[A] 80 Kg.
[B] Less than 80 Kg
[C] More than 80 Kg
[D] Either less or more than 80 Kg
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [More than 80 Kg]
Notes:
When the elevator is slowing down while moving downwards, that means there is an acceleration upwards. The gravitational force must be lesser than the normal force. Thus, during slowing down while moving downwards, the normal force on the feet of a passenger is greater than her weight. In this case the scale will read more than 80 kg.
4. Who among the following is credited for the Corpuscular theory of light?
[A] Isaac Newton
[B] Christiaan Hyugens
[C] Albert Einstein
[D] James Clerk Maxwell
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Correct Answer: A [Isaac Newton]
Notes:
The Corpuscular theory of light was given by Isaac Newton. It was replaced by Huygens’ wave theory when it failed to adequately explain the diffraction, interference and polarization of light. The Huygens’ wave theory was replaced by Planck’s quantum theory and finally de-Broglie’s Dual-Theory of light replaced all previous ones.
5. Which of the following is the largest practical unit of mass?
[A] Slug
[B] a.m.u
[C] Hyperkg
[D] C.S.L
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ C.S.L ]
Notes:
The largest practical unit of mass is called as Chandra Shekhar Limit (C.S.L) which is equivalent to 1.4 times the mass of Sun. Chandrasekhar limit is the maximum mass theoretically possible for a stable white dwarf star. This limiting value was named after Indian-born astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, who formulated it in 1930. Using Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity and the principles of quantum physics, Chandrasekhar showed that it is impossible for a white dwarf star, which is supported solely by a degenerate gas of electrons, to be stable if its mass is greater than 1.44 times the mass of the Sun.
6. Which of these pairs has the same unit of measurement?
[A] Rate of flow and Acceleration
[B] Impulse and Moment of Force
[C] Rydberg constant and Gas constant
[D] Pressure and Coefficient of Elasticity
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ Pressure and Coefficient of Elasticity ]
Notes:
Pressure and Coefficient of Elasticity have the same unit i.e. N m-2 (Newton per metre square) Other important units: Rate of Flow: m3s-1 Acceleration: ms-2 Rydberg constant: 1/m Gas constant: J/K Impulse: Ns Moment of Force: Nm
7. The branch of mechanics which deals with the study of motion of material objects without taking into account the factors which cause motion is called as:
[A] Statics
[B] Kinematics
[C] Dynamics
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kinematics]
Notes:
The branch of mechanics which deals with the study of motion of material objects without taking into account the factors which cause motion is called as Kinematics. The branch of mechanics which deals with the study of motion of material objects taking into account the factors which cause motion is called as Dynamics. The branch of mechanics which deals with the study of material objects at rest is called as Statics.
8. The magnitude of the resultant of two vectors is maximum in which of the following case?
[A] when vectors act in the same direction
[B] when vectors act in the opposite direction
[C] when vectors act at 90° to each other
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [when vectors act in the same direction]
Notes:
The magnitude of the resultant of two vectors is maximum when vectors act in the same direction. The magnitude of the resultant of two vectors is minimum when vectors act in the opposite directions.
9. Which of the following statements regarding vectors is NOT correct?
[A] A unit vector is dimensionless
[B] A vector cannot be divided by a vector
[C] A vector changes, when it is displaced to itself
[D] Current is not a vector quantity
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [A vector changes, when it is displaced to itself]
Notes:
A unit vector is unit less and dimensionless. A vector cannot be divided by a vector as a vector cannot be divided by a direction. A vector does not change, when it is displaced to itself. Time, Pressure, Surface Tension, Current are some of the quantities that have direction but are not vectors. A physical quantity is a vector only when it follows commutative law of addition of vectors.
10. The Newton’s third law is applicable when:
[A] bodies are at rest
[B] bodies are in motion
[C] bodies are in the air
[D] bodies are at rest or in motion
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [bodies are at rest or in motion]
Notes:
The Newton’s third law is applicable whether the bodies are at rest or in motion. It states that to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.