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UPSC Civil Services
General Science

UPSC IAS/IPS MCQ questions — History, Polity, Economy, Science, General Studies.

207 Q 5 Subjects Graduate
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Difficulty: All Easy Medium Hard 41–50 of 207
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Q.41 Easy General Science Physics
A ball is thrown vertically upward with an initial velocity of 20 m/s. What is the maximum height reached? (Take g = 10 m/s²)
A 10 m
B 20 m
C 30 m
D 40 m
Correct Answer:  B. 20 m
EXPLANATION

Using v² = u² - 2gh, where final velocity v = 0, u = 20 m/s, g = 10 m/s². Therefore, 0 = 400 - 20h, giving h = 20 m.

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Q.42 Easy General Science Physics
Which of the following statements about velocity is correct?
A Velocity is a scalar quantity that can never be negative
B Velocity is a vector quantity that includes both magnitude and direction
C Velocity and speed are always equal in magnitude
D Velocity remains constant in circular motion
Correct Answer:  B. Velocity is a vector quantity that includes both magnitude and direction
EXPLANATION

Velocity is a vector quantity with both magnitude and direction, unlike speed which is scalar. Velocity can be negative, and in circular motion, velocity constantly changes direction.

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Q.43 Hard General Science Physics
A copper wire is stretched elastically. Which property is NOT affected?
A Young's modulus
B Electrical resistivity
C Length
D Cross-sectional area
Correct Answer:  A. Young's modulus
EXPLANATION

Young's modulus is a material property independent of the wire's dimensions or elastic deformation state. It depends only on the material composition and atomic structure, not on physical changes.

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Q.44 Hard General Science Physics
When light passes from a denser to a rarer medium at an angle greater than the critical angle, what happens?
A Light refracts away from normal
B Light undergoes total internal reflection
C Light partially reflects and refracts
D Light is absorbed completely
Correct Answer:  B. Light undergoes total internal reflection
EXPLANATION

At critical angle θ_c, refracted ray becomes parallel to the interface. Beyond this angle, no refraction occurs; light completely reflects back into the denser medium (total internal reflection). This principle enables fiber optics.

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Q.45 Hard General Science Physics
A Carnot engine operates between temperatures 400 K and 300 K. What is its maximum efficiency?
A 0.25 or 25%
B 0.33 or 33%
C 0.75 or 75%
D 0.50 or 50%
Correct Answer:  A. 0.25 or 25%
EXPLANATION

Carnot efficiency: η = 1 - (T_cold/T_hot) = 1 - (300/400) = 1 - 0.75 = 0.25 = 25%. This is the theoretical maximum for any heat engine.

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Q.46 Medium General Science Physics
A conducting sphere is given a charge of 8 μC. What is the electric field at its surface if the radius is 2 cm?
A 1.8 × 10⁶ N/C
B 3.6 × 10⁷ N/C
C 1.8 × 10⁷ N/C
D 7.2 × 10⁷ N/C
Correct Answer:  C. 1.8 × 10⁷ N/C
EXPLANATION

Electric field at surface: E = kQ/r² = (9 × 10⁹ × 8 × 10⁻⁶)/(0.02)² = (72)/(4 × 10⁻⁴) = 1.8 × 10⁷ N/C.

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Q.47 Medium General Science Physics
A submarine sonar uses ultrasound with frequency 50 kHz and speed 1500 m/s in water. What is the wavelength?
A 0.03 m
B 0.3 m
C 3 m
D 30 m
Correct Answer:  A. 0.03 m
EXPLANATION

Wavelength λ = v/f = 1500/(50 × 10³) = 1500/50000 = 0.03 m = 3 cm. Higher frequencies in denser mediums produce shorter wavelengths.

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Q.48 Medium General Science Physics
An object undergoes simple harmonic motion with amplitude 5 cm and frequency 2 Hz. What is the maximum velocity?
A 10π cm/s
B 20π cm/s
C 5π cm/s
D 2.5π cm/s
Correct Answer:  B. 20π cm/s
EXPLANATION

Maximum velocity in SHM: v_max = ωA = 2πfA = 2π × 2 × 5 = 20π cm/s ≈ 62.8 cm/s.

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Q.49 Medium General Science Physics
A radioactive element has a half-life of 10 years. What fraction of the original sample remains after 30 years?
A 1/2
B 1/4
C 1/8
D 3/4
Correct Answer:  C. 1/8
EXPLANATION

After 30 years = 3 half-lives: N = N₀ × (1/2)³ = N₀/8. The sample reduces by half three times successively.

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Q.50 Hard General Science Physics
Which phenomenon explains why stars twinkle but planets do not?
A Refraction of light in Earth's atmosphere
B Point sources vs extended sources in atmospheric turbulence
C Dispersion of light
D Diffraction by dust particles
Correct Answer:  B. Point sources vs extended sources in atmospheric turbulence
EXPLANATION

Stars appear as point sources. Turbulent layers in the atmosphere refract starlight randomly, causing intensity variations (twinkling). Planets appear as extended sources, so refraction averaging effect minimizes visible twinkling.

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