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. At which of the following places water shall boil at the lowest temperature?
[A] Kochi
[B] Ooty
[C] Mount Abu
[D] New Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ooty]
Notes:
This question is related to Antoine equation. Water to get boil, its vapour pressure must reach to its surrounding pressure. In a pressure cooker, it boils at the highest temperature. Elevation of Kochi is 0 m, ooty is 2,486 m, Mount Abu is 1,200 m, New Delhi is 216 m, Shimla is 2,205 m. So comparing all of them, water will boil at lowest temperature at ooty, followed by Shimla, Mount Abu , New Delhi and Kochi. This is because , higher we go lower is the atmospheric pressure and lower is the point where water`s vapour pressure gets equal to the atmospheric pressure.
3. If the distance between the earth and the sun becomes one-fourth of what it is now, the gravitational force exerted on the earth by the sun would be:
[A] One-fourth of what it is now
[B] One-sixteenth of what it is now
[C] Sixteen times of what it is now
[D] Four times of what it is now
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Sixteen times of what it is now]
Notes:
Gravitational force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the bodies.
4. Echoes are heard when we shout in an empty hall. But when the hall is full of people no echoes are heard why?
[A] Echoes are subdued in the noise of people
[B] Soft clothes of people absorb sound instead of reflecting it
[C] Destructive interference of sound takes place
[D] Excessive reverberations take place
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ Excessive reverberations take place]
Notes:
When we shout in an empty hall, we hear your own sound after a short time. This is because the empty room reflects the sound, so there is an echo.
When a hall is full of people, the sound produced is reflected multiple times by the people. This causes the sound to overlap with the original sound, so the listener can’t distinguish between the two.
For an echo to be heard, the surfaces need to reflect the sound, or there needs to be more clarity. For example, big open spaces are good for hearing echoes.
5. Which of the following makes a CD or DVD show rainbow pattern?
[A] Diffraction of the Light
[B] Thin-Film Interference of the light
[C] Scattering of the light
[D] Polarisation of the light
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Diffraction of the Light]
Notes:
A CD or DVD has closely spaced tracks which work as a diffraction grating to form the familiar rainbow pattern seen when looking at a disk.
6. Which of the following is correct about the properties of Gravitational Forces?
[A] They are the strongest forces in nature
[B] They observe inverse square law
[C] Both a and b
[D] None
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [They observe inverse square law]
Notes:
Gravitational Forces are the weakest forces in nature. They obey inverse square law as they vary inversely as the square of the distance between the two bodies. They are central forces and conservative forces. They operate over very long distances having an infinite range.
7. What is the S.I unit of Pressure Energy?
[A] Nm
[B] Watt
[C] Joule
[D] No units
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Joule ]
Notes:
Joule is the unit of Pressure energy. Pressure energy is the energy stored in a fluid due to the force per unit area applied onto it Pressure energy = Pressure x volume Its dimensional formula is M L2 T-2
8. What is the work done by centripetal force in case of Uniform Circular Motion?
[A] 1 joule
[B] 0 joule
[C] Depends on the magnitude of Force
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [0 joule]
Notes:
The work done by Centripetal Force in case of Uniform Circular Motion is zero. The displacement and force are mutually perpendicular to each other in case of centripetal force. Therefore the work done is zero.
9. Which of the following is NOT correct about Vectors addition?
[A] Vectors addition is associative
[B] Vectors addition is commutative
[C] Vectors of different natures can be added
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Vectors of different natures can be added]
Notes:
Vectors addition is associative and commutative. But vectors of the same nature alone can be added. Example: a Force vector cannot be added to velocity vector as they are of different nature.
10. What is the relationship between Kinetic and limiting friction?
[A] Kinetic friction is slightly greater than limiting friction
[B] Kinetic friction is slightly less than limiting friction
[C] Kinetic friction is equal to limiting friction
[D] No relationship
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kinetic friction is slightly less than limiting friction]
Notes:
The Kinetic friction is always slightly less than the limiting friction. This is because once the motion has started, the inertia of has been overcome and irregularities of one surface have little or no time to get locked into the irregularities of the other surface.