UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, impacts of solar flares and more (Week 113)

QUESTION 1

With reference to the Quasars, consider the following statements:

1. They are the extremely active and bright cores of some distant galaxies.

2. Quasars are powered by a supermassive black hole.

3. All quasars are not active galactic nucleus (AGNs), but all AGNs are quasars.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The European Southern Observatory has announced the discovery of an incredibly brilliant quasar, which is not only the brightest of its type but also the most luminous object ever observed in space.

— Quasars are the extraordinarily active and brilliant nuclei of some distant galaxies, fuelled by supermassive black holes. Supermassive black holes evolve by consuming materials drawn in by their extremely intense gravity. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

— A quasar is a very active and bright form of active galactic nucleus (AGN). While all quasars are AGNs, not all AGNs are quasars. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Quasars are a subclass of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), which are exceptionally bright galactic centres where gas and dust collide with a supermassive black hole to generate electromagnetic radiation across the whole electromagnetic spectrum.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

The impact of solar flares can be seen over:

1. Radio communications

2. Electric power grids

3. Navigation signals

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— A solar flare is a massive explosion on the Sun caused by the rapid release of energy trapped in ‘twisted’ magnetic fields (often found above sunspots).

— In just a few minutes, they heat material to millions of degrees and emit a blast of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to X-rays and gamma rays.

— Solar flares are tremendous bursts of energy that can disrupt radio communications, power grids, navigation signals, and even endanger humans in space, satellites, and spacecraft.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer (NISP) and Visible Imager (VIS) are the payloads of:

(a) Euclid space telescope

(b) Chandrayaan 3

(c) Hubble Space Telescope

(d) James Webb Space Telescope

Explanation

— Astronomers at the European Space Agency (ESA) have hit the jackpot after their telescope, Euclid, obtained high-resolution photos of 26 million galaxies, revealing a vast treasure trove for researching the dark cosmos.

— The Euclid Mission is led by ESA, with assistance from scientists from NASA, Japan, and Canada. Euclid is a 1.2-metre telescope designed to map massive spatial structures in our universe, such as galaxies, in order to help reconstruct how the universe expanded and how galaxy formations evolved to look the way they do now. It carries two scientific payloads: a near-infrared spectrometer and photometer (NISP) and a visible imager.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Malapert is a:

(a) Deep craters near Mercury’s poles

(b) Impact crater on Mars

(c) Shield volcano on Mars

(d) A crater in the South Pole region of the Moon

Explanation

— Texas-based Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lander attempted to become the first privately-led mission to soft-land on the Moon. The lunar lander will attempt to land near Malapert (A crater in the South Pole region of the Moon), not far from ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 lander.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Which of the following nuclear power plants has developed the country’s first Indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR)?

(a) Kalpakkam Atomic Power Plant

(b) Kudankulam Atomic Power Plant

(c) Rawatbhata Atomic Power Plant

(d) Tarapur Atomic Power Plant

Explanation

— The crucial second stage of India’s three-stage nuclear programme received a boost with the start of ‘core loading’ at the country’s first indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu.

— Core loading is the process of inserting nuclear fuel assemblies into the core of a nuclear reactor.

— The completion of core loading will effectively signal the first step towards ‘criticality’ — the start of a self-sustaining nuclear fission reaction that will eventually lead to power generation by the 500 megawatt electric (MWe) FBR.

— India will become the second country, after Russia, to have a commercial working FBR. China has a minor rapid breeder program, but programs in Japan, France, and the United States have been halted because of safety concerns.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

Consider the following areas related to Science and Technology:

1. Astrophysics

2. Nanoscience

3. Neuroscience

In which of the above mentioned fields are ‘The Kavli Prizes’ awarded?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— The Kavli Prize is awarded in honour of Norwegian-American businessman and philanthropist Fred Kavli (1927-2013).

— “The Kavli Prizes are awarded in three areas: astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience — the largest, the smallest, and the most complex. I believe these prizes are in the most exciting fields for the twenty-first century and beyond,” Kavli said, while describing the prizes.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

With reference to Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, consider the following statements:

1. It states certain pairs of physical properties—like position and momentum—cannot both be precisely known at the same time.

2. It is a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics.

Which of the above statements is/are correct:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The Heisenberg uncertainty principle, part of the bedrock of quantum mechanics, tells us that certain pairs of properties — such as position and momentum — cannot both be known exactly at the same time.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

What is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission launched to study the dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources under extreme conditions?

(a) XSPECT

(b) XPoSat

(c) POLIX

(d) XPRIZE

Explanation

— According to ISRO,

— “XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions. The spacecraft will carry two scientific payloads in a low earth orbit.”

— The primary payload POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays): It will measure the polarimetry parameters (degree and angle of polarization) in medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons of astronomical origin.

— The XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload: It will give spectroscopic information in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 113)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 113)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 112)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 112)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 112)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 112)

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