1

THE EARTH AND THE UNIVERSE

1. Consider the following statements : 1. The universe has a large number of galaxies, and each carries millions of stars which are bounded by a unique force known as gravitational force. 2. Milky Way Galaxy includes the sun, earth, and our solar system. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 

2. Consider the following statements :  5HÁHFWHG VXQOLJKW IURP WKH 0RRQ·V VXUIDFH WDNHV 0.3 seconds to reach earth. 2. It takes 8.3 minutes for light to travel from the Sun to the Earth. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 3. Consider the following statements : 1. The main source of energy of sun is helium. 2. Sunspots are the hotter regions on the photosphere. 3. All the planets revolve round the Sun in circular orbits. Which of the above mentioned statements are incorrect? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of the above

4. A planet is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun  E  KDVVXIÀFLHQWPDVVIRULWVVHOIJUDYLW\WRRYHUFRPH rigid body forces (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit (d) All of the above 5. Consider the following : 1. Near-Earth objects (NEOs) 2. Solar System asteroids 3. Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) 4. Plutoids Which of the above mentioned are the examples of Small Solar System bodies? (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2 and 4 (c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) All of the above

6. Consider the following statements : 1. Pluto resides within zone of the transneptunian region. 2. A dwarf planet is not in orbit around the Sun. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 7. Which of the above mentioned are categorized as Plutoids ? 1. Pluto 2. Ceres 3. Eris 4. Makemake Codes : (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) All of the above 

8. Consider the following statements :  0DUVLVRIWHQFRQ¤VLGHUHGDV¶(DUWK·VWZLQEHFDXVH of their close proximity in size, mass (weight) and density. 2. The surface of Jupiter is made up of many gases like hydrogen, helium, and methane. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

9. Consider the following statements : 1. Uranus is the second largest after Jupiter. 2. Saturn orbits around the sun in a clockwise direction from east to west.   1HSWXQHKDVÀYHVDWHOOLWHVUHYROYLQJURXQGLW Which of the above mentioned statements are incorrect ? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of the above 10. Consider the following statements about ‘shape of earth’ : 1. Earth is an oblate spheroid. 2. It has a slightly greater radius at the Poles than Equator. 3. The geoid describes the model shape of Earth. Which of the above mentioned statements are correct? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of the above

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KIRAN’S CERTIFICATE PHYSICAL & HUMAN GEOGRAPHY MCQs 11. Which of the following conditions prove that the Earth is spherical ? 1. Circum-navigation of the earth 2. The sun rises and sets at same times in different places. 3. When a ship appears over the distant horizon, the WRSRIWKHPDVWLVVHHQÀUVWEHIRUHWKHKXOO Codes : (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of the above

16. Consider the following statements : 1. The days are longer than nights in summer which leads to temperature rise. 2. In winter, the vertical rays of the sun are obstructed by atmospheric impurities and water vapour. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

12. Consider the following statements : 1. The shadow cast by the earth on the moon during the lunar eclipse is always spherical. 2. The centre pole normally projects slightly above the poles at either end. 3. The Planetary bodies are spherical in shape. Which of the above mentioned phenomenon are correct ? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of the above

17. Consider the following statements: 1. At the equator the sun rises and sets almost vertically so the time it takes to pass through the ‘twiOLJKW]RQH·ZLOOEHORQJHUWKDQIRUWHPSHUDWHODWLtudes. 2. The brief period between sunrise and full daylight is called twilight. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

13. Consider the following statements : 1. The earth revolves on its own axis from west to east once in every 24 hours. 2. The rotation of earth causes day and night on earth. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 14. Consider the following statements : 1. The revolution of the earth and its inclination to the plane of the ecliptic causes the variation in the length of day and night at different times of the year. 2. At the Arctic Circle, there is a complete 24-hour period of continuous daylight on 22 December. 3. When it is summer in the northern hemisphere, the southern continents will experience winter. Which of the above mentioned statements are correct? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of the above 15. Consider the following statements related to the ‘Altitude of the Midday Sun’ : 1. The sun is vertically overhead at the equator on usually 21 March and 21 September. 2. When sun is vertically overhead at the Tropic of &DSULFRUQLWLVFDOOHG¶VXPPHUVROVWLFH· 3. The Arctic and Antarctic are marked by distinct seasonal changes. Which of the above mentioned statements are incorrect ? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) None of the above

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18. Consider the following statements related to ‘latitudes’ : 1. The linear distance of a degree of latitude at the pole is longer than that at the equator. 2. Latitude is the angular distance of a point on the HDUWK·V VXUIDFH PHDVXUHG IURP WKH FHQWUH RI WKH earth. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 19. Consider the following statements related to ‘longitudes’ : 1. The Prime Meridian passes through the Royal Astronomical Observatory at Bering Strait. 2. The longitudes can be used for calculating distances and times at various places. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 20. Consider the following statements : 1. The earth rotates from west to east, so every 15° eastwards, local time is retarded by 1 hour. 2. The longitude of a place can be determined by comparing the local time with G.M.T. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

THE EARTH AND THE UNIVERSE 21. When it is noon, in London (Longitude 0°5W), the local time for Chennai (80°E.) will be (a) 5.20 p.m (b) 4.20 p.m (c) 9.20 p.m (d) 7.04 p.m 22. Consider the following statements : 1. The Indian Standard Time is 5 hrs 30 mins ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.   &DQDGD86DQG8665KDYHÀYHWLPH]RQHV Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 23. Consider the following statements about International Date Line : 1. The International Date Line is the imaginary line that separates two consecutive calendar days. 2. A travel east across the International Date Line results in 24 hours being added. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ? (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 24. Consider the following statements : 1. All parallel circles from the equator up to the poles are called parallels of longitudes. 2. The equator represents the zero degree latitude.

3. Both Chandrapur in Maharashtra and Belo Horizonte in Brazil are located on same parallels. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 (d) All of the above 25. Consider the following statements : 1. The areas bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle in the Northern Hemisphere is called Temperate Zones. 2. The sun does not rise much above the horizon in Frigid Zones. Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct ? (a) 1 Only (b) 2 Only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWERS 1.

(c)

2.

(b)

3.

(d)

4.

(d)

5.

(a)

6.

(a)

7.

(b)

8.

(b)

9.

(d)

10.

(c)

11.

(c)

12.

(b)

13.

(b)

14.

(c)

15.

(b)

16.

(a)

17.

(d)

18.

(c)

19.

(d)

20.

(b)

21.

(a)

22.

(a)

23.

(a)

24.

(c)

25.

(c)

EXPLANATIONS 1. (c)

z

z

z

z

3. (d) These stars are not scattered regularly in space; they occur in clusters, better described as galaxies or nebulas. Each galaxy may contain as many as 100 million stars. ,WLVEHOLHYHGWKDWWKHHDUWK·VRZQJDOD[\WKH0LON\ Way) alone contains as many as 100,000 million stars. A galaxy is a sprawling space system which is composed of stars, dust, interstellar gas, stellar remnants, and dark matter and all held together by gravity. 7KHZRUG¶*DOD[\·LVWHUPHGIURPWKH*UHHNZRUG ‘galaxies.

z

z

2. (b) z

z

z z

The light from the nearest star travelling at the speed of light (i.e. 186,000 miles per second) takes something like four years to reach earth. A light-year or light year is a unit of measurement RIOHQJWKVSHFLÀFDOO\WKHGLVWDQFHOLJKWWUDYHOVLQD vacuum in one year. 5HÁHFWHGVXQOLJKWIURPWKH0RRQ·VVXUIDFHWDNHV seconds to travel the 4.04 × 10-8 light years to Earth. It takes 8.3 minutes for light to travel from the Sun to the Earth (a distance of 1.58 × 10-5 light-years).

z

The solar system comprises the Sun and its eight planets which are believed to have been developed from the condensation of gases and other lesser bodies. All the planets revolve round the Sun in elliptical orbits. Like the earth, they shine only by WKHUHÁHFWHGOLJKWRIWKHVXQ7KH6XQKDVDVXUIDFH temperature of 6,000°C. (10,800°F.) and increases to 20 million°C. (36 million°F.) in the interior. All over LWVVXUIDFHDUHÀHU\JDVHVWKDWOHDSXSLQZKLUOVRI JORZLQJÁDPHVOLNHDYROFDQRLQHUXSWLRQ The Sun is by far the largest object in the solar system. It contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System. The Sun is, at present, about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium by mass everything else (“metals”) amounts to less than 2%. This changes slowly over time as the Sun converts hydrogen to helium in its core. The surface of the Sun, called the photosphere, is at a temperature of about 5800 K. Sunspots are “cool” regions, only 3800 K (they look dark only by comparison with the surrounding regions). Sunspots can be very large, as much as 50,000 km in diameter. Sunspots are caused by complicated and not YHU\ ZHOO XQGHUVWRRG LQWHUDFWLRQV ZLWK WKH 6XQ·V PDJQHWLFÀHOG$VPDOOUHJLRQNQRZQDVWKHFKURmosphere lies above the photosphere.

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KIRAN’S CERTIFICATE PHYSICAL & HUMAN GEOGRAPHY MCQs 5. (a) z

z

4. (d) z

z

The International Astronomical Union has been responsible for the naming and nomenclature of planetary bodies and their satellites since the earO\V7KHGHÀQLWLRQRI3ODQHWJLYHQLQE\ IAU held that a planet is: A celestial body that (a) LV LQ RUELW DURXQG WKH 6XQ E  KDV VXIÀFLHQW PDVV for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit. The IAU Resolution means that the Solar System RIÀFLDOO\FRQVLVWVRIHLJKWSODQHWV0HUFXU\9HQXV Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. A new distinct class of objects called dwarf planets was also decided on. It was agreed that planets and dwarf planets are two distinct classes of objects.

The word celestial body is as wide as the entire XQLYHUVHIRUERWKNQRZQDQGXQNQRZQ%\GHÀQLtion, a celestial body is any natural object outside RIWKH(DUWK·VDWPRVSKHUH6LPSOHH[DPSOHVDUHWKH Moon, Sun, and the other planets of our solar system. But those are very partial examples. The Kuiper belt holds many celestial bodies. Any asteroid in space is a celestial body. The word planet comes from the Greek word for “wanderer”, meaning that planets were originally GHÀQHGDVREMHFWVWKDWPRYHGLQWKHQLJKWVN\ZLWK UHVSHFW WR WKH EDFNJURXQG RI À[HG VWDUV 3ODQHWV PRYH LQ À[HG RUELWV DURXQG WKH VXQ 7KHUH DUH  planets in our solar system. Planets may be made of rocks, metals and gases like hydrogen, nitrogen and methane. The earth is also a planet and is the only known place in the universe which supports life. Planets that revolve around other stars are called exoplanets.

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All objects that orbit the Sun that are too small (not massive enough) for their own gravity to pull them LQWR D QHDUO\ VSKHULFDO VKDSH DUH QRZ GHÀQHG DV being small Solar System bodies. This class currently includes most of the Solar System asteroids, near-Earth objects (NEOs), Mars and Jupiter Trojan asteroids, most Centaurs, most Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) and comets. The term “small Solar System body” is a new IAU GHÀQLWLRQWRHQFRPSDVVDOOREMHFWVRUELWLQJWKH6XQ WKDWDUHWRRVPDOOQRWVXIÀFLHQWO\PDVVLYH WRVDWLVI\WKHGHÀQLWLRQRISODQHWRUGZDUISODQHW

6PDOO6RODU6\VWHP%RG\666% LVDWHUPGHÀQHG in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union to describe objects in the Solar System that are neither planets nor dwarf planets: This encompasses all miQRU SODQHWV RWKHU WKDQ WKRVH UHFODVVLÀHG DV GZDUI planets, i.e. : ™The classical asteroids, with the exception of Ceres; ™The centaurs and trojans; ™The trans-Neptunian objects, with the exception of Pluto, Haumea, Makemake and Eris; ™All comets. 6. (a) z

z

z

The dwarf planet Pluto is recognised as an important prototype of a new class of Trans-Neptunian Objects. The IAU has put given a new denomination for these objects: plutoids. A dwarf planet is an object in orbit around the Sun that is large enough (massive enough) to have its own gravity pull itself into a round (or nearly round) shape. Generally, a dwarf planet is smaller than Mercury. A dwarf planet may also orbit in a zone that has many other objects in it. For example, an orbit within the asteroid belt is in a zone with lots of other REMHFWV&XUUHQWO\WKHUHDUHÀYHREMHFWVDFFHSWHGDV dwarf planets. Ceres, Pluto, Eris, Makemake and Haumea. Pluto now falls into the dwarf planet category on account of its size and the fact that it resides within a zone of other similarly-sized objects known as the transneptunian region.

7. (b) z

z

Plutoids are celestial bodies in orbit around the Sun at a semi-major axis greater than that of Neptune WKDW KDYH VXIÀFLHQW PDVV IRU WKHLU VHOIJUDYLW\ WR overcome rigid body forces so that they assume a hydrostatic equilibrium (near-spherical) shape, and that have not cleared the neighbourhood around their orbit. Satellites of plutoids are not plutoids themselves, even if they are massive enough that their shape is dictated by self-gravity.