MCQOPTIONS
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MCQOPTIONS
This section includes 317 Mcqs, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your UPSC IAS Exam knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.
| 1. |
Why is sound heard with more intensity through \[C{{O}_{2}}\] than through the air? [NDA] |
| A. | Density of \[C{{O}_{2}}\] is more than that of air |
| B. | Density of \[C{{O}_{2}}\] is less than that of air |
| C. | Air is bad conductor of heat |
| D. | \[C{{O}_{2}}\] is a compound, but air is a mixture of gases. |
| Answer» B. Density of \[C{{O}_{2}}\] is less than that of air | |
| 2. |
Which one of the following properties distinguishes ultrasound from normal audible sound? [NDA] |
| A. | Intensity |
| B. | Speed of propagation |
| C. | Frequency |
| D. | Quality |
| Answer» D. Quality | |
| 3. |
Assertion [A]: In a pressure cooker food is cooked above boiling point.Reason [R]: Boiling point of water increases as the pressure increases. [CDS] |
| A. | Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A |
| B. | Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A |
| C. | A is true, but R is false |
| D. | A is false, but R is true |
| Answer» B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A | |
| 4. |
The sound from an open pipe is more pleasant than the sound from a closed pipe. This is because: |
| A. | sound is heard from both the sides of an open pipe |
| B. | there are more overtone combinations in an open pipe than in a closed one |
| C. | it is very easy to operate an open pipe |
| D. | the length of the open pipe is shorter |
| Answer» C. it is very easy to operate an open pipe | |
| 5. |
Which one of the following is the mode of heat transfer in which warm material is transported so as to displace a cooler material? [NDA] |
| A. | Conduction only |
| B. | Convection only |
| C. | Radiation |
| D. | Both conduction and convection |
| Answer» C. Radiation | |
| 6. |
Which one among the following statements about thermal conductivity is correct? [NDA] |
| A. | Steel > Wood > Water |
| B. | Steel > Water > Wood |
| C. | Water > Steel > Wood |
| D. | Water > Wood > Steel |
| Answer» C. Water > Steel > Wood | |
| 7. |
Cloudy nights are warmer compared to clear cloudless nights, because clouds: [IAS Prelim] |
| A. | prevent clod waves from the sky from descending on earth |
| B. | reflect back the heat given off by earth |
| C. | produce heat and radiate it towards earth |
| D. | absorb heat from the atmosphere and send it towards earth |
| Answer» C. produce heat and radiate it towards earth | |
| 8. |
Mr X was advised by an architect to make outer walls of his house with hollow bricks. The correct reason is that such walls [CDS] |
| A. | make the building stronger |
| B. | help keeping inside cooler in summer and warmer in winter |
| C. | prevent seepage of moisture from outside |
| D. | protect the building from lightning |
| Answer» C. prevent seepage of moisture from outside | |
| 9. |
Why are inner lining of hot water geysers made up of copper? [CDS] |
| A. | Copper has low heat capacity |
| B. | Copper has high electrical conductivity |
| C. | Copper does not react with steam |
| D. | Copper is good conductor of both heat and electricity |
| Answer» E. | |
| 10. |
The simple harmonic motion of a particle is given by y = 3 sin \[\omega \,t\]+ 4 cos\[\omega \,t\]. Which one of the following is the amplitude of this motion? [NDA] |
| A. | 1 |
| B. | 5 |
| C. | 7 |
| D. | 12 |
| Answer» C. 7 | |
| 11. |
The standing wave pattern along a string of length 60 cm is shown in the above diagram. If the speed of the transverse waves on this string is 300 m/s, in which one of the following modes is the string vibrating? [NDA] |
| A. | Fundamental |
| B. | First overtone |
| C. | Second overtone |
| D. | Third overtone |
| Answer» D. Third overtone | |
| 12. |
A man standing between two parallel hills fires a gun and hears two echoes, one 2.5 s and the other 3.5 s after the firing. If the velocity of sound is \[330\,\,m{{s}^{-1}}\], how long will it take him to hear the third echo? [NDA] |
| A. | 4 s |
| B. | 5 s |
| C. | 6 s |
| D. | 8 s |
| Answer» D. 8 s | |
| 13. |
Assertion [A]: The boiling point of water decreases as the altitude increases.Reason [R]: The atmospheric pressure increases with altitude. [IAS Prelim] |
| A. | Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A |
| B. | Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A |
| C. | A is true but R is false |
| D. | A is false but R is true |
| Answer» D. A is false but R is true | |
| 14. |
Assertion [A]: A piece of copper and a piece of glass are heated to the same temperature. When touched, thereafter, the copper piece appears hotter than the glass piece.Reason [R]: The density of copper is more than that of glass. [IAS Prelim] |
| A. | Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A |
| B. | Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A |
| C. | A is true but R is false |
| D. | A is false but R is true |
| Answer» C. A is true but R is false | |
| 15. |
Timbre is called the quality of sound. One can recognise the voice of a familiar human being or instrument without actually seeing them. This quality is associated with |
| A. | material of the body |
| B. | overtones present in the sound |
| C. | shape of the body |
| D. | all of the above |
| Answer» E. | |
| 16. |
'Pitch' is a characteristic of sound that depends upon its [NDA] |
| A. | intensity |
| B. | frequency |
| C. | quality |
| D. | None of these |
| Answer» C. quality | |
| 17. |
Sound moves with higher velocity if [NDA] |
| A. | pressure of the medium is decreased |
| B. | temperature of the medium is increased |
| C. | humidity of the medium is increased |
| D. | Both [b] and [c] above |
| Answer» E. | |
| 18. |
Which one among the following statements is not correct? [NDA] |
| A. | In progressive waves, the amplitude may be constant and neighbouring points are out of phase with each other |
| B. | In air or other gases, a progressive antinode occurs at a displacement node and a progressive node occurs at a displacement antinode |
| C. | Transverse wave can be polarised while longitudinal wave cannot be polarised |
| D. | Longitudinal wave can be polarised while transverse wave cannot be polarised |
| Answer» B. In air or other gases, a progressive antinode occurs at a displacement node and a progressive node occurs at a displacement antinode | |
| 19. |
Bats can ascertain distance, directions, nature and size of the obstacles at night. This is possible by reflection of the emitted [NDA] |
| A. | ultrasonic waves from the bat |
| B. | ultrasonic waves from the distant objects |
| C. | supersonic waves from the bat |
| D. | supersonic waves from the distant objects |
| Answer» B. ultrasonic waves from the distant objects | |
| 20. |
Which one of the following is not electromagnetic in nature? [NDA] |
| A. | Cathode-rays |
| B. | X-rays |
| C. | Gamma-rays |
| D. | Infrared-rays |
| Answer» B. X-rays | |
| 21. |
In a sitar wire which one of the following types of vibration is produced? [NDA] |
| A. | Progressive longitudinal |
| B. | Stationary longitudinal |
| C. | Progressive transverse |
| D. | Stationary transverse |
| Answer» E. | |
| 22. |
The turntable of a gramophone is rotated at a constant speed of x revolutions/minute. Which one of the following values of the revolutions per minute is not used? [NDA] |
| A. | 78 r.p.m. |
| B. | 56 r.p.m. |
| C. | 45 r.p.m. |
| D. | 33 r.p.m. |
| Answer» C. 45 r.p.m. | |
| 23. |
Two identical piano wires have same fundamental frequency when kept under the same tension. What will happen if tension of one of the wire is slightly increased and both the wires are made to vibrate simultaneously? [CDS] |
| A. | Noise |
| B. | Beats |
| C. | Resonance |
| D. | Non-linear effects |
| Answer» D. Non-linear effects | |
| 24. |
The regions of compressions and rare fractions of sound wave are-established because |
| A. | the sound wave undergoes diffraction behind obstacles |
| B. | the reflected sound wave at fixed end interferes with the incident wave |
| C. | the longitudinal movement of air molecules produce pressure fluctuations |
| D. | the speed of the sound wave changes as it travels through a medium |
| Answer» D. the speed of the sound wave changes as it travels through a medium | |
| 25. |
Assertion [A]: Radio waves bend in a magnetic field.Reason [R]: Radio waves are electromagnetic in nature. [IAS Prelim] |
| A. | Both A are R are true and R is the correct explanation of A |
| B. | Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A |
| C. | A is true but R is false |
| D. | A is false but R is true |
| Answer» E. | |
| 26. |
Assertion [A]: A jet aircraft moving at Mach Number equal to 1 travels faster at an altitude of 15 km than while moving at Mach Number equal to 1 near the sea level.Reason [R]: The velocity of sound depends on the temperature of the surrounding medium. [IAS Prelim] |
| A. | Both A are R are true and R is the correct explanation of A |
| B. | Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A |
| C. | A is true but R is false |
| D. | A is false but R is true |
| Answer» E. | |
| 27. |
Figure given above shows the part of a long string in which transverse waves are produced. Which pair of points is in phase? [NDA] |
| A. | A and E |
| B. | B and J |
| C. | D and J |
| D. | C and G |
| Answer» E. | |
| 28. |
If the length of second's pendulum is increased by 2%, how many seconds will it lose per day? [NDA] |
| A. | 3600 s |
| B. | 3456 s |
| C. | 1728 s |
| D. | 846 s |
| Answer» E. | |
| 29. |
Consider the following statements with reference to observations made by an astronaut on the surface of moon: 1. The astronaut finds that a simple pendulum continues to oscillate for a much longer time, than that on the earth. 2. No atmosphere exists there. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [NDA] |
| A. | Only 1 |
| B. | Only 2 |
| C. | Both 1 and 2 |
| D. | Neither 1 nor 2 |
| Answer» D. Neither 1 nor 2 | |
| 30. |
When pressure on piece of ice is increases its melting point |
| A. | decreases |
| B. | increases |
| C. | remains unchanged |
| D. | first increases and then decreases |
| Answer» C. remains unchanged | |
| 31. |
Consider the following three statements 1. Heating 1 kg of water from \[10{}^\circ C\] to \[50{}^\circ C\] 2. Melting 600 g of ice at \[0{}^\circ C\] 3. Converting 300 g of ice at \[0{}^\circ C\] to water at \[50{}^\circ C\] Which one of the following shows the correct arrangement of the quantity of heat required in the above process in increasing order of magnitude? Choose the correct answer from the codes give below |
| A. | 1, 2, 3 |
| B. | 2, 1, 3 |
| C. | 3, 2, 1 |
| D. | 3, 1, 2 |
| Answer» E. | |
| 32. |
The graph given above indicates change in temperature (\[\Delta t\]) when heat (\[Q\]) was given to a substance. Which among the following parts of the graph correctly depict the latent heat of the substance? [NDA] |
| A. | AB and BC |
| B. | BC and DE |
| C. | CD and DE |
| D. | DE and AB |
| Answer» D. DE and AB | |
| 33. |
Which of the following properties are most desirable for a cooking pot? [NDA] |
| A. | High specific heat capacity and low conductivity |
| B. | Low specific heat capacity and high conductivity |
| C. | High specific heat capacity and high conductivity |
| D. | Low specific heat capacity and low conductivity |
| Answer» C. High specific heat capacity and high conductivity | |
| 34. |
Consider the following statements: [CDS] 1. Steam at \[100{}^\circ C\] and boiling water at \[100{}^\circ C\] contain same amount of heat. 2. Latent heat of fusion of ice is equal to the latent heat of vaporization of water. 3. In an air-conditioner, heat is extracted from the room air at the evaporator coils and is rejected out at the condenser coils. Which of these statements is/are correct? |
| A. | 1 and 2 |
| B. | 2 and 3 |
| C. | Only 2 |
| D. | Only 3 |
| Answer» E. | |
| 35. |
Which one among the following denotes the smallest temperature? [NDA] |
| A. | \[1{}^\circ \] on the Celsius scale |
| B. | \[1{}^\circ \] on the Kelvin scale |
| C. | \[1{}^\circ \] on the Fahrenheit scale |
| D. | \[1{}^\circ \] on the Reaumur scale |
| Answer» C. \[1{}^\circ \] on the Fahrenheit scale | |
| 36. |
Low temperatures (cryogenics) find application in: [IAS Prelim] |
| A. | space travel, surgery and magnetic levitation |
| B. | surgery, magnetic levitation and telemetry |
| C. | space travel, surgery and telemetry |
| D. | space travel, magnetic levitation and telemetry |
| Answer» B. surgery, magnetic levitation and telemetry | |
| 37. |
Which zone of a candle flame is the hottest? [NDA] |
| A. | Dark innermost zone |
| B. | Outermost zone |
| C. | Middle luminous zone |
| D. | Central zone |
| Answer» C. Middle luminous zone | |
| 38. |
Consider the following statements: Sound waves can undergo [NDA] 1. reflection 2. refraction 3. interference |
| A. | 1 and 2 only |
| B. | 2 and 3 only |
| C. | 1 and 3 only |
| D. | 1, 2 and 3 |
| Answer» E. | |
| 39. |
Consider the following parts of spectra [NDA] 1. Visible 2. Infrared 3. Ultraviolet 4. Microwave Which one of the following is the correct sequence in which their wavelengths increase? |
| A. | \[4-3-1-2\] |
| B. | \[4-1-2-3\] |
| C. | \[3-2-1-4\] |
| D. | \[3-1-2-4\] |
| Answer» E. | |
| 40. |
Consider the following statements: If the same note is played on a flute and a sitar, one can still distinguish between them because they differ in [NDA] 1. frequency 2. intensity 3. quality Which of the statements given above is/are correct? |
| A. | 1 and only |
| B. | 2 and 3 only |
| C. | 3 only |
| D. | 2 only |
| Answer» D. 2 only | |
| 41. |
A solid is melted (above the melting point) and allowed to cool down at normal condition. Its variation of temperature as a function of times is as shown in the figure given below. What is the reason for the plateau (flat position) in the central region of the cooling curve as shown in the figure? [NDA] |
| A. | Latent heat of fusion of the solid |
| B. | Specific heat of the solid |
| C. | Thermal conductivity of the solid |
| D. | Thermal capacity of the solid. |
| Answer» B. Specific heat of the solid | |
| 42. |
If the door of a running refrigerator in a closed room is kept open, what will be the net effect on the room? [CDS] |
| A. | It will cool the room |
| B. | It will heat the room |
| C. | It will make no difference on the average |
| D. | It will make the temperature go up and down |
| Answer» C. It will make no difference on the average | |
| 43. |
The surface of a lake is frozen in severe winter, but the water at its bottom is still liquid. What is the reason? [IAS Prelim] |
| A. | Ice is a bad conductor of heat. |
| B. | Since the surface of the lake is at the same temperature as the air, no heat is lost. |
| C. | The density of water is maximum at \[4{}^\circ C\]. |
| D. | None of the statements [a], [b] and [c] given is correct. |
| Answer» B. Since the surface of the lake is at the same temperature as the air, no heat is lost. | |
| 44. |
A Centigrade thermometer and Fahrenheit thermometer are dipped in boiling water. The temperature of water is lowered till the Fahrenheit thermometer registers half of its upper fixed point. What is the corresponding fall temperature registered by the Centrigrade thermometer? [NDA] |
| A. | Half of its range of temperature between the upper and the lower fixed points |
| B. | Approximately \[41{}^\circ C\] |
| C. | Approximately \[59{}^\circ C\] |
| D. | \[18{}^\circ C\] |
| Answer» C. Approximately \[59{}^\circ C\] | |
| 45. |
In SONAR, we use [CDS] |
| A. | ultrasonic waves |
| B. | infrasonic waves |
| C. | radio waves |
| D. | audible sound waves |
| Answer» B. infrasonic waves | |
| 46. |
An oscilloscope is an instrument which allows us to see waves produced by [CDS] |
| A. | Visible light |
| B. | X-rays |
| C. | Sound |
| D. | Gamma rays |
| Answer» D. Gamma rays | |
| 47. |
Match the column - I and Column - II. Column-I Column-IIA.Audible range in humansP.greater than 20,000 HzB.Ultrasonic wavesQ20 Hz - 20,000 HzC.Infrasonic wavesR.1498 m/sD.Speed of sound in water (distilled)S.343.2m/sE.Speed of sound in airT.less than 20 Hz |
| A. | A-Q; B-P; C-T; D-S; E-R |
| B. | A-Q; B-P; C-T; D-R; E-S |
| C. | A-P; B-Q; C-T; D-R; E-S |
| D. | A-Q; B-T; C-P; D-R; E-S |
| Answer» C. A-P; B-Q; C-T; D-R; E-S | |
| 48. |
Which one of the following types of waves are used in a night vision apparatus? [IAS Prelim] |
| A. | Radio waves |
| B. | Microwaves |
| C. | Infra-red waves |
| D. | None of the above |
| Answer» D. None of the above | |
| 49. |
Sun emits energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. The following help in the generation of solar energy. Arrange them in the right sequence beginning from the starting of the cycle: [NDA]1. Hydrogen is converted to helium at very high temperatures and pressures.2. The energy finds its way to sun's surface.3. A vast quantity of energy is generated by nuclear fusion.Select the correct answer using the code given below. |
| A. | 1-2-3 |
| B. | 36952 |
| C. | 3-2-1 |
| D. | 37316 |
| Answer» E. | |
| 50. |
Television signal cannot be received generally beyond a particular distance due to [CDS] |
| A. | curvature of the Earth |
| B. | weakness of antenna |
| C. | weakness of signal |
| D. | absorption of signal in air |
| Answer» B. weakness of antenna | |