UPSC Geoscientist Archives

31. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is given as recognition of outstanding I

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is given as recognition of outstanding Indian work in the field of:

Arts and crafts

Journalism

Science and Technology

Medicine

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UPSC Geoscientist – 2020

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The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology is a prestigious science award in India given annually by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) for notable and outstanding research, applied or fundamental, in various branches of science and technology.

The prize specifically recognizes contributions to Science and Technology.

The prize is named after the founder Director of CSIR, Sir Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar. It is given in disciplines including Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Medical Sciences, and Physical Sciences.

33. Which one of the following countries was ranked 1 st in the IMD World

Which one of the following countries was ranked 1^st in the IMD World Competitiveness ranking 2019?

Singapore

USA

India

Switzerland

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UPSC Geoscientist – 2020

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According to the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2019, Singapore was ranked 1st. This ranking assesses economies based on criteria such as economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure.

Singapore topped the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking in 2019.

In the 2019 ranking, the top five countries were Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, USA, Switzerland, and UAE. India was ranked 43rd. The ranking is published annually by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).

34. Which one of the following statements is NOT true about the sound

Which one of the following statements is NOT true about the sound waves?

Sound waves are longitudinal in nature

Sound waves can propagate through water

Speed of sound waves in steel is more than its speed in air

Sound waves can propagate through vacuum

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The statement that is NOT true about sound waves is that they can propagate through vacuum. Sound waves are mechanical waves, meaning they require a material medium (solid, liquid, or gas) through which to travel. They cause vibrations in the particles of the medium, and these vibrations are transmitted from one particle to the next. In a vacuum, there are essentially no particles to vibrate, so sound cannot travel through it.

Sound waves are mechanical waves and require a medium (solid, liquid, or gas) to propagate.

Sound waves in fluids (like air and water) are primarily longitudinal. Sound can propagate through various media, including water (as demonstrated by underwater sound) and solids like steel. The speed of sound varies depending on the medium; it is generally fastest in solids (due to stronger inter-particle forces), slower in liquids, and slowest in gases. The speed of sound in steel is significantly higher than its speed in air.

35. At atmospheric pressure, the density of water is maximum at a temperat

At atmospheric pressure, the density of water is maximum at a temperature of:

0 °C

4 °C

-4 °C

1 °C

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UPSC Geoscientist – 2020

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At atmospheric pressure, the density of water is maximum at a temperature of 4 °C. This is due to the anomalous expansion of water. As water is heated from 0 °C to 4 °C, it contracts (density increases), unlike most substances which expand upon heating. Above 4 °C, water expands normally upon heating (density decreases). Conversely, when water is cooled from higher temperatures, its density increases until it reaches a maximum at 4 °C, and then decreases as it is cooled from 4 °C to 0 °C (it expands upon freezing at 0 °C).

Water exhibits anomalous expansion, reaching its maximum density at 4 °C.

This peculiar property of water is crucial for aquatic life in cold climates, as the densest water (at 4 °C) settles at the bottom of lakes and ponds, preventing them from freezing solid from top to bottom and allowing aquatic organisms to survive through the winter.

36. In a thermos flask, the walls are made of shiny glass. Which one of th

In a thermos flask, the walls are made of shiny glass. Which one of the following heat loss process is minimised by using shiny walls?

Convection

Conduction

Radiation

Both radiation and convection

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UPSC Geoscientist – 2020

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In a thermos flask, the walls are made of shiny glass to minimise heat loss by radiation. Shiny surfaces are poor emitters and poor absorbers of thermal radiation. By making the inner and outer surfaces shiny, heat transfer by radiation is significantly reduced. Heat from the hot liquid inside is not easily radiated outwards, and external heat is not easily absorbed and radiated inwards.

Shiny surfaces are poor emitters and absorbers of thermal radiation, effectively reducing heat transfer by radiation.

A thermos flask is designed to minimise all three modes of heat transfer: conduction (by using a vacuum between the walls and a stopper), convection (by using a vacuum and a narrow neck), and radiation (by using shiny surfaces and a vacuum). The shiny walls specifically target the reduction of heat transfer through radiation.

37. Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the infrared

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding the infrared radiation?

It is electromagnetic in nature

Its wavelength is larger than that of the visible light

It can travel through vacuum

It is a longitudinal wave

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The statement that is NOT true regarding infrared radiation is that it is a longitudinal wave. Infrared radiation is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum. All electromagnetic waves, including visible light, radio waves, UV rays, X-rays, gamma rays, and infrared radiation, are transverse waves. In transverse waves, the oscillations (of electric and magnetic fields) are perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Longitudinal waves, such as sound waves in air, involve oscillations parallel to the direction of propagation.

Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves.

Infrared radiation is electromagnetic in nature, meaning it consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields and travels at the speed of light in vacuum. Its wavelength range is typically longer than that of visible light (from about 700 nanometers to 1 millimeter). Like all electromagnetic waves, it can travel through vacuum. Infrared radiation is commonly associated with heat transfer (thermal radiation).

38. Which one of the following statements is true regarding the time perio

Which one of the following statements is true regarding the time period (T) of oscillation of a simple pendulum?

T increases with increase in length of the pendulum

T depends on the mass of the pendulum bob

T decreases with increase in length of the pendulum

T is independent of the length of the pendulum

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The time period (T) of oscillation of a simple pendulum for small oscillations is given by the formula T = 2π * sqrt(L / g), where L is the length of the pendulum and g is the acceleration due to gravity. From this formula, it is clear that the time period T is directly proportional to the square root of the length L (T ∝ sqrt(L)). Therefore, if the length of the pendulum increases, the time period also increases.

The time period of a simple pendulum is proportional to the square root of its length.

The formula T = 2π * sqrt(L / g) also shows that the time period depends on the acceleration due to gravity (g) but is independent of the mass of the pendulum bob and the amplitude of oscillation (provided the amplitude is small). Option A correctly describes the relationship between T and L.

39. A metallic wire having length l and area of cross-section A has a re

A metallic wire having length *l* and area of cross-section A has a resistance R. It is now connected in series with a wire of same metal but with length 2*l* and area of cross-section 2A. The total resistance of the combination will be:

R/2

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The resistance of a metallic wire is given by the formula R = ρ * (l / A), where ρ is the resistivity of the material, l is the length, and A is the area of the cross-section. The first wire has resistance R = ρ * (l / A). The second wire is made of the same metal (same ρ), has length 2l, and area of cross-section 2A. Its resistance R₂ = ρ * (2l / 2A) = ρ * (l / A). Therefore, R₂ = R. When the two wires are connected in series, the total resistance is the sum of individual resistances: R_total = R₁ + R₂ = R + R = 2R.

The resistance of a wire is directly proportional to its length and inversely proportional to its area of cross-section. Resistances in series add up directly.

The resistivity (ρ) is a material property and remains constant for the same metal at the same temperature. In this case, both wires are made of the same metal, so their resistivity is the same.

40. A current carrying circular loop having n number of turns per unit len

A current carrying circular loop having n number of turns per unit length has a current I through it. If the current through it and the number of turns per unit length are doubled, then the magnetic field at the centre of the loop will:

remain same.

increase by four times.

increase by two times.

decrease by two times.

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The magnetic field at the center of a current carrying circular loop with N turns and current I is given by the formula B = (μ₀ * N * I) / (2 * R), where R is the radius of the loop. The question states ‘n number of turns per unit length’ which is unusual phrasing for a simple loop, but if interpreted as relating to the total number of turns N, then B is directly proportional to both the number of turns N and the current I (B ∝ N * I). If the number of turns (assuming N = n) is doubled and the current I is also doubled, the new magnetic field B’ will be proportional to (2N) * (2I) = 4 * (N * I). Thus, the magnetic field will increase by four times.

The magnetic field produced by a current-carrying coil (like a loop or solenoid) is directly proportional to the number of turns in the coil and the current flowing through it.

While the phrase “turns per unit length” is typically associated with solenoids or toroids, where the magnetic field inside is B = μ₀ * n * I (with n being turns per unit length), the proportionality B ∝ n * I still holds. Doubling both n (or N) and I will result in the magnetic field increasing by a factor of 2 * 2 = 4, regardless of the specific geometry, as long as the formula is proportional to n*I.