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. A pendulum is taken to Moon, what will happen to its time period?
[A] Increases
[B] Decreases
[C] Remains constant
[D] Either increase or decrease
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Increases]
Notes:
When the simple pendulum is taken to the moon, value of gravitational constant g will decrease and thus, its time period will increase.
2. What is the mean value of g at earth’s surface?
[A] 0.98 meter per second
[B] 9.8 meter per second
[C] 9.8 meter per second square
[D] 0.98 meter per second square
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [9.8 meter per second square]
Notes:
The mean value of the acceleration due to gravity (often denoted as “g”) at Earth’s surface is approximately 9.81 meters per second squared (m/s²). This value represents the average gravitational acceleration experienced by objects on the surface of the Earth. It is important to note that this value is not constant everywhere on Earth’s surface and can vary slightly due to factors such as location, altitude, and the density of the Earth’s crust.
3. When a barometer is taken down in a coal mine , which of the following happens with the Mercury level in the tube?
[A] rises
[B] falls
[C] falls then rises
[D] remains unaltered
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [rises]
Notes:
When a barometer is taken down into a coal mine, the mercury level rises. This is because the temperature increases as you move down the Earth’s crust. There is also very little wind, so the warmth can’t distribute the temperature and moderate it. A barometer is an instrument that measures pressure. In a coal mine, the pressure is higher than normal pressure. When a barometer is taken down into a coal mine, it shows a greater reading.
4. Where will the weight of a person be maximum?
[A] At the Poles
[B] At the Tropic of Capricorn
[C] At the Tropic of Cancer
[D] At the Equator
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [At the Poles]
Notes:
The weight of a person would be maximum at the poles, due to the higher gravitational force acting upon them in these regions. This occurs because Earth is an oblate spheroid, flattened at its poles and bulging at the equator, resulting in a shorter distance from the Earth’s center at the poles and a consequent higher gravitational pull. At the equator, the force is slightly weaker due to a greater distance from the Earth’s center. Weights at the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn lie in-between the poles and equator, but are closer to the equator’s value.
5. 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.
6. “Svedberg Unit” is a measure of?
[A] Concentration
[B] Size
[C] Density
[D] Time
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Time]
Notes:
A Svedberg unit (S/ Sv) is utilized to denote sedimentation coefficients, providing specific measurement of a particle based on its sedimentation rate under acceleration. Essentially, it computes how quickly a particle settles to the bottom of a solution. In terms of the time dimension, a Svedberg unit amounts to exactly 10−13 seconds, indicating that it is essentially a measure of time.
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. Two pieces of ice at 0°C would freeze together if pressed against each other and then released. In this context, which among the following is the correct principle in action in this?
[A] The melting point of pure ice decreases with pressure.
[B] The melting point of pure ice increases with Pressure
[C] The melting point of pure ice first increases, then decreases with pressure
[D] The melting point of pure ice first decreases then increases with pressure
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ The melting point of pure ice decreases with pressure.]
Notes:
Melting point of pure ice decreases with pressure at the rate of 0.0072°C per atmosphere and this is called regulation, which was discovered by Faraday and occurs at some 0°C or very slightly less temperature.
9. Which among the following provides potential energy to an object?
[A] Its momentum
[B] It’s position
[C] It’s acceleration
[D] It’s shape
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ It’s position]
Notes:
The potential energy is defined as the energy that is stored in an object due to its position. Various types of potential energy include the gravitational potential energy (depends on its mass and its distance from the center of other object’s mass), the elastic potential energy, the electric potential energy.
10. Large Underground Xenon experiment (LUX) is being carried out in which country?
[A] U.S.A
[B] Russia
[C] China
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ U.S.A]
Notes:
Large Underground Xenon experiment (LUX) is located 1,510 m underground at the Sanford Underground Laboratory in Lead city, South Dakota, United States.