The Universe

Total Questions: 51

31. The scientist who first discovered that the earth revolves around the sun was - [56thto 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]

Correct Answer: (c) Copernicus
Solution:Nicolaus Copernicus was an astronomer, mathematician of Poland. In 1514, Copernicus propounded the Heliocentric Theory of the solar system in his Essay 'Commentariolus' (Little commentary). Notably, Indian astronomers Varahamihira propounded the same theory around a thousand years before Copernicus in the sixth century. He mentioned that the moon revolves around the earth and the earth revolves around the sun.

32. The scientist who first discovered that the earth revolves around the sun was - [56thto 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]

Correct Answer: (c) Copernicus
Solution:Nicolaus Copernicus was an astronomer, mathematician of Poland. In 1514, Copernicus propounded the Heliocentric Theory of the solar system in his Essay 'Commentariolus' (Little commentary). Notably, Indian astronomers Varahamihira propounded the same theory around a thousand years before Copernicus in the sixth century. He mentioned that the moon revolves around the earth and the earth revolves around the sun.

33. Which scientist said for the first time that the earth revolves around the sun and that the earth is not the centre of the universe? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]

Correct Answer: (b) Copernicus
Solution:Nicolaus Copernicus was an astronomer, mathematician of Poland. In 1514, Copernicus propounded the Heliocentric Theory of the solar system in his Essay 'Commentariolus' (Little commentary). Notably, Indian astronomers Varahamihira propounded the same theory around a thousand years before Copernicus in the sixth century. He mentioned that the moon revolves around the earth and the earth revolves around the sun.

34. Who first established that all the planets revolve round the sun? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (mains) 2016]

Correct Answer: (a) Nicholas Copernicus
Solution:Nicholas Copernicus was the first to establish that all the planets including the Earth revolve around the sun. Copernicus's primary contribution was his proposal that the Earth and other planets revolve around the Sun, a concept that challenged the prevailing geocentric (Earth-centered) view of the universe. He documented his heliocentric model in his book, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres), published shortly before his death in 1543. His theory triggered a major shift in scientific thought, known as the Copernican Revolution, which paved the way for the Scientific Revolution. Copernicus was a versatile figure, excelling in various fields, including astronomy, mathematics, canon law, medicine, and economics. He is often considered the father of modern astronomy due to his groundbreaking work on the solar system. His work laid the foundation for later astronomers like Kepler, Galileo, and Newton, who built upon his ideas to develop a more accurate understanding of the solar system

35. Which one of the following statements is correct with reference to our solar system? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]

Correct Answer: (a) The Earth is the densest of all the planets in our solar system
Solution:The average density of Earth is highest among all the other eight planets of our Solar System. It is 5.5 gm/cm³. The density of other planets is as follows (Unit-gm/cm³) Mercury (5.4), Venus (5.2), Mars (3.9), Jupiter (1.3), Saturn (0.7) Uranus (1.3), Neptune (1.6). Thus statement (a) is correct. The largest constituent element of earth is Iron (32.07%). Oxygen (30.12%) is the second and Silicon (15.12%) is the third largest element in the composition of Earth. The sun comprises 99.8% mass of the solar system. The diameter of the sun is about 109.2 times the Earth's diameter.

36. The number of the planet in the solar system is - [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992]

Correct Answer: (b) 9
Solution:According to old recognition, there are total of 9 planets which are in increasing order of distance from the sun, as follows:
PlanetDistance from the Sun (million km)
iMercury57.9 million km
iiVenus108.2 million km
iiiEarth149.6 million km
ivMars228 million km
vJupiter778.5 million km
viSaturn1432 million km
viiUranus2867 million km
viiiNeptune4515 million km
ixPluto5906.4 million k

Note: In the 26th General assembly meeting of International Astronomical Union held at Prague in 2006 an official definition of a planet was given and a resolution was passed by which Pluto has been removed from the group of 9 planets and now it is a dwarf planet. Hence, a total number of planets is 8 now.

37. Which of the given two planets are between Mars and Uranus in order of distance from the sun? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2008]

Correct Answer: (b) Jupiter and Saturn
Solution:According to old recognition, there are total of 9 planets which are in increasing order of distance from the sun, as follows:
PlanetDistance from the Sun (million km)
iMercury57.9 million km
iiVenus108.2 million km
iiiEarth149.6 million km
ivMars228 million km
vJupiter778.5 million km
viSaturn1432 million km
viiUranus2867 million km
viiiNeptune4515 million km
ixPluto5906.4 million k

Note: In the 26th General assembly meeting of International Astronomical Union held at Prague in 2006 an official definition of a planet was given and a resolution was passed by which Pluto has been removed from the group of 9 planets and now it is a dwarf planet. Hence, a total number of planets is 8 now.

38. Arrange the planets given below in order of increasing distance from sun? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl.) (Pre) 2003, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2002]

1. Pluto

2. Earth

3. Jupiter

4. Uranus

Codes:

Correct Answer: (a) 2,3,4,1
Solution:According to old recognition, there are total of 9 planets which are in increasing order of distance from the sun, as follows:
PlanetDistance from the Sun (million km)
iMercury57.9 million km
iiVenus108.2 million km
iiiEarth149.6 million km
ivMars228 million km
vJupiter778.5 million km
viSaturn1432 million km
viiUranus2867 million km
viiiNeptune4515 million km
ixPluto5906.4 million k

Note: In the 26th General assembly meeting of International Astronomical Union held at Prague in 2006 an official definition of a planet was given and a resolution was passed by which Pluto has been removed from the group of 9 planets and now it is a dwarf planet. Hence, a total number of planets is 8 now.

39. The Planets between Earth and Sun are - [U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]

Correct Answer: (c) Mercury and Venus
Solution:According to old recognition, there are total of 9 planets which are in increasing order of distance from the sun, as follows:
PlanetDistance from the Sun (million km)
iMercury57.9 million km
iiVenus108.2 million km
iiiEarth149.6 million km
ivMars228 million km
vJupiter778.5 million km
viSaturn1432 million km
viiUranus2867 million km
viiiNeptune4515 million km
ixPluto5906.4 million k

Note: In the 26th General assembly meeting of International Astronomical Union held at Prague in 2006 an official definition of a planet was given and a resolution was passed by which Pluto has been removed from the group of 9 planets and now it is a dwarf planet. Hence, a total number of planets is 8 now.

40. The Earth is located between [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]

Correct Answer: (a) Venus and Mars
Solution:According to old recognition, there are total of 9 planets which are in increasing order of distance from the sun, as follows:
PlanetDistance from the Sun (million km)
iMercury57.9 million km
iiVenus108.2 million km
iiiEarth149.6 million km
ivMars228 million km
vJupiter778.5 million km
viSaturn1432 million km
viiUranus2867 million km
viiiNeptune4515 million km
ixPluto5906.4 million k

Note: In the 26th General assembly meeting of International Astronomical Union held at Prague in 2006 an official definition of a planet was given and a resolution was passed by which Pluto has been removed from the group of 9 planets and now it is a dwarf planet. Hence, a total number of planets is 8 now.