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. Which among the following is true about latent heat ?
[A] It causes change in temperature as well as change in state or phase
[B] It causes change in temperature only
[C] It causes change in state or phase but not in temperature
[D] It causes change in Pressure
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [It causes change in state or phase but not in temperature]
Notes:
The latent heat Latent heat is energy released or absorbed, by a body or a thermodynamic system, during a constant-temperature process. It causes change in state or phase but not in temperature.
2. Which among the following is the most acceptable range of LEO (Low Earth orbit)?
[A] 350 – 2,600 kms
[B] 200-2000 kms
[C] 160 – 2,000 kms
[D] 160-1600 kms
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [160 – 2,000 kms]
Notes:
This range is commonly used and accepted in the context of satellite orbits within the Earth’s atmosphere. It extends from approximately 160 kilometers (the Kármán line, which is often used as the boundary of space) to around 2,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.
3. 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.
4. An object is executing uniform circular motion. Which of the following quantities remain(s) constant during the object’s motion?
[A] Velocity and acceleration
[B] Speed and velocity
[C] Speed and acceleration
[D] Speed only
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ Speed only]
Notes:
The velocity of an object undergoing uniform circular motion is always changing (because the direction is always changing). Further, since the acceleration is centripetal, it must always point toward the center of the circle; so, as the object moves around the circle, the acceleration vector is also constantly changing direction. Notice that for an object in uniform circular motion, both the velocity and the acceleration are changing because the directions of these vectors are always changing, even though their magnitudes stay the same. In this question, only speed remains unchanged.
5. While passing over an obstacle a light ray slightly bends round the corner. The phenomenon is known as__:
[A] Scattering
[B] Polarisation
[C] Diffraction
[D] Refraction
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Diffraction]
Notes:
The phenomenon of light rays bending around the corners of obstacles is called diffraction. Diffraction refers to various phenomena that occur when a wave encounters an obstacle or a slit.
6. We can hear a whooshing sound when we hold a spiral conch shell near our ears. What is the most likely reason behind this?
[A] The sound we hear is echoing of our blood rushing through the blood vessels of our ear
[B] The sound is generated by air flowing through the shell – in and out
[C] The ambient noise around us resonates inside the shell
[D] None of the reasons mentioned in statements A, B or C is correct
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ The ambient noise around us resonates inside the shell]
Notes:
The most likely explanation for the wave-like noise is ambient noise from around us. The seashell that we hold just slightly above our ear captures this noise, which resonates inside the shell.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Among the following units, which one represents the smallest measurement of length?
[A] Micron
[B] Nanometer
[C] Fermi
[D] Angstrom
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Fermi]
Notes:
In the presented choices, the Fermi stands as the smallest unit of length measurement. It is equal to 10^-15 m. Comparatively, 1 Micron equals 10^-6 m, 1 Nanometer equals 10^-9 m, and 1 Angstrom equivalent to 10^-10 m. All these units are commonly used to measure minuscule distances, particularly in the realm of nanotechnology and particle physics. However, the Fermi, named after the esteemed physicist Enrico Fermi, remains the smallest.
10. Power of lens is measured in which of the following units?
[A] metre
[B] dioptre
[C] lumen
[D] watt
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ dioptre ]
Notes:
Power of lens is measured in dioptre(D). Power of lens = 1/focal length The power of a lens is its ability to bend light. The greater the power the greater the refraction of light.