General Science/Everyday Science MCQs
Topic Notes: General Science/Everyday Science
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
11
A meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through
Answer:
A comet’s debris trail
Meteor showers occur when Earth's orbit crosses a debris trail left by a comet. The small particles burn up in our atmosphere, creating streaks of light.
12
The primary gas in Earth’s atmosphere is
Answer:
Nitrogen
Earth's atmosphere is composed of approximately 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. The remaining 1% is made up of argon and other trace gases like CO2.
13
The 'blue planet' is
Answer:
Earth
Earth is known as the 'Blue Planet' because about 71% of its surface is covered by oceans, reflecting blue light into space as seen from distance.
14
Solar flares can cause
Answer:
Northern lights (auroras) on Earth
Solar flares release charged particles that interact with Earth's magnetic field, causing auroras (Northern and Southern Lights) and potentially interfering with electronics.
15
The hottest part of the Sun is the
Answer:
Core
The Sun's core is its hottest region, reaching temperatures of about 15 million degrees Celsius. This is the region where nuclear fusion occurs.
16
What is the name for a Moon that is more than half but not completely full?
Answer:
Gibbous
A 'gibbous' moon occurs when the Moon appears to be more than half illuminated but not yet a full circle. This occurs during the waxing and waning phases of the lunar cycle.
17
The highest tides occur during?
Answer:
New & Full Moons (Spring tide)
Spring tides occur during New and Full Moons when the gravitational pulls of the Sun and Moon are aligned, creating the greatest difference between high and low tide.
18
What causes the seasons on Earth?
Answer:
Tilt of Earth’s axis
Seasons are caused by the 23.5-degree tilt of Earth's axis. As Earth orbits the Sun, different hemispheres receive more direct sunlight at different times of the year.
19
The distance from the Earth to Sun is called a(n)
Answer:
Astronomical unit
An Astronomical Unit (AU) is a unit of length equal to the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, which is about 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers.
20
Which side of the Moon is always facing Earth?
Answer:
Near side
The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, rotating on its axis in the same time it takes to orbit Earth. As a result, the same 'near side' always faces our planet.