UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Science and Technology MCQs on atomic clock, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant and more (Week 145)

(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1.

(b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1.

(c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is incorrect.

(d) Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 2 is correct.

Relevance: Atomic clocks are based on precise measurement of atomic transitions in cold, nearly motionless atoms—an application of quantum physics. Such questions test understanding of modern technologies with scientific principles, a recurring theme in UPSC Prelims.

Explanation

— One of the most powerful applications of cold atoms is timekeeping.

— Modern atomic clocks use clouds of cold atoms as ticking references. Because the atoms are nearly motionless, their internal rhythms can be measured with incredible precision. Today’s best clocks would not lose even one second over the age of the universe.

— These clocks are not just laboratory curiosities. They run the GPS system, synchronize the internet, and allow scientists to test whether the laws of physics change over time.

— Cold atoms are also used in ultra-sensitive gravity sensors that can detect underground structures, monitor volcanoes, and even test Einstein’s theory of gravity.

Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

The ‘β-amyloid’ is a:

(a) neurotransmitter involved in synaptic plasticity

(b) lipid molecule essential for myelin sheath formation

(c) hormone regulating glucose metabolism in the brain

(d) waste protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease

Relevance: UPSC Prelims often tests basic biological concepts linked with current health issues reported in the news.

Explanation

— According to recent studies on monkeys, listening to low-frequency sounds may aid the brain’s removal of harmful proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease. In the experiment, the animals’ cerebrospinal fluid showed higher amounts of β-amyloid, a waste protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease, when there was a constant hum at 40 hertz (Hz).

— This indicates that the brain was eliminating the poison more efficiently. The results, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicate that sound stimulation may eventually be used as a component of a non-invasive treatment for illness. A waste protein called β-amyloid forms a “plaque” that coats the neurons in our brains as we age. Cognitive decline results from this plaque’s interference with brain cell communication.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the PSLV-C62 mission, consider the following statements:

1. The mission failed due to an anomaly in the first stage.

2. The mission was carrying 16 satellites, and all of them were from foreign countries.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Relevance: This question tests awareness of ISRO missions in current affairs and the ability to verify factual details of launch failures and payload composition. Such questions assess whether candidates can distinguish between mission outcomes, launch vehicle stages, and satellite ownership, a recurring UPSC Prelims trend in space & technology.

Explanation

— The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) first launch of the year failed on January 12. The PSLV-C62 mission — carrying 16 satellites, including seven from foreign countries — did not reach its intended orbit. This is the second straight failure for a rocket that has served as ISRO’s main launch vehicle for more than three decades. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The PSLV-C62 mission encountered an anomaly during the end of PS3 (third stage) of the vehicle. During the third stage, the rocket needs to rapidly accelerate to maintain its orbit around the Earth (note that this is not the final orbit). If pressure drops in the combustion chamber, the force required to attain the necessary acceleration drops as well. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

About PSLV

— The PSLV, or Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, is what is known as a four-stage rocket. The stages refer to different parts of the rocket, each of which have their own engines and fuel. Each of these stages sequentially take charge of propelling the mission. They get detached and discarded after doing their job. The stages are sometimes also used to refer to the different phases of the mission flight.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), consider the following statements:

1. It was the outcome of an intergovernmental agreement between France and India in 1988.

2. It is the single largest nuclear power station in India.

3. The Kudankulam nuclear complex hosts 1,000 MW water-water energetic reactor.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Relevance: This question links nuclear energy infrastructure with international cooperation, a frequent UPSC theme. It tests awareness of reactor types, installed capacity, and India’s civil nuclear partnerships, which are commonly asked in Prelims under Science & Technology and Energy.

Explanation

— A consortium of two Indian companies has won the contract for installing and managing the control and instrumentation package at the under-construction Kudankulam 5 and 6 nuclear reactors, marking another step forward towards greater indigenisation of the nuclear ecosystem in the country.

— Public sector Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) and Mumbai-based TEMA India have been awarded the nearly Rs 1,600 project to set up the systems in 42 months.

— The KKNPP was the outcome of an inter-governmental agreement between the erstwhile Soviet Union and India in 1988. It is the single largest nuclear power station in India. The power station was envisaged to have six units with total capacity to generate 6,000 MW of electricity (1,000 MW each). Hence, statement 1 is not correct and statement 2 is correct.

(Express Archive)

— The Kudankulam nuclear complex hosts Russian-designed 1,000 MW water-water energetic reactor (VVER) reactors. The first two reactors in the complex, the only foreign-designed reactors in India right now, have been operational for more than a decade. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

The term ‘rogue planets’ refers to:

(a) planets orbiting two stars simultaneously

(b) planets located beyond the Kuiper Belt

(c) planets with highly eccentric orbits around their parent stars

(d) free-floating planets that do not orbit any star

Relevance: Rogue planets are often mentioned in astronomy discoveries by NASA/ESA, making them relevant to current affairs. Such questions test basic understanding of planetary classification and space terminology, a recurring area in UPSC Prelims Science & Technology.

Explanation

— Astronomers have spotted a rare kind of world drifting through the Milky Way entirely on its own, confirming the existence of a “free-floating” planet nearly 10,000 light-years from Earth. The object, roughly comparable in size to Saturn, is one of the clearest examples yet of a planet that does not orbit any star.

(Image: University of Warsaw)

— Planets are usually detected because of the stars they circle, but this newly confirmed world belongs to a more elusive class known as rogue planets. Hints of such objects have surfaced before, yet they have been difficult to verify because they emit little to no light of their own. In this case, scientists were able to determine both the planet’s distance and its mass, a first for a rogue planet detected this way.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 140)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 145)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 144)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 144)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 144)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 144)

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