Which one of the following is NOT a luminous object ?

Which one of the following is NOT a luminous object ?

Sun
Electric lamp
Candle
Moon
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2019
The correct answer is D) Moon.
Objects can be classified based on whether they produce their own light or merely reflect light from another source.

* **Luminous Objects:** These objects emit their own light.
* A) Sun: The Sun is a star that produces light and heat through nuclear fusion. It is a luminous object.
* B) Electric lamp: An electric lamp (like an incandescent bulb, fluorescent tube, or LED lamp) produces light when electricity is passed through it. It is a luminous object.
* C) Candle: A burning candle produces light through the process of combustion. It is a luminous object.
* **Non-luminous Objects:** These objects do not produce their own light but become visible because they reflect light from a luminous source.
* D) Moon: The Moon does not generate its own light. We see the Moon because it reflects sunlight. Therefore, the Moon is a non-luminous object.

Most objects we see around us on Earth, such as furniture, books, trees, etc., are non-luminous. They are visible because they reflect ambient light from sources like the Sun or artificial lamps.