The Universe

Total Questions: 51

41. Which is true about planets ? [U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1992]

(a) Planets are non-luminous bodies and don't shine
(b) Planets shine though they are non-luminous bodies
(c) Planets do not shine though they are the luminous body
(d) Planets are the luminous body and also shine

Correct Answer: (b) Planets shine though they are non-luminous bodies

Solution:Planets are a non-luminous body but they shine because they reflect the light of the Sun. Thus option (b) is correct.

Self-luminous bodies emit their own light whereas non-luminous bodies do not emit their own light. All the stars are self-luminous while all the planets and their satellites are non-luminous, which appear to be lit up in the night sky due to the reflection of light from the Sun.

42. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists: [I.A.S. (Pre) 1998]

List-I (Special characteristic)	List- II (Name of the planet)
A. Smallest planet of the solar system	1. Mercury
B. Largest planet of the solar system	2. Venus
C. Planet second to the sun in the solar system	3. Jupiter
D. Planet nearest to the sun	4. Pluto

Code:

	A	B	C	D
(a)	2	3	5	1
(b)	3	5	1	2
(c)	4	1	2	3
(d)	4	3	2	1

Correct Answer: (d)

Solution:The correctly matched list is as follows:

Special Characteristics	Name of Planets
Smallest planet of the solar system	Pluto (After it was removed from the group of planets, Mercury is the smallest)
Largest planet of the solar system	Jupiter
Planet second to the Sun in the solar system	Venus
Planet nearest to the Sun	Mercury

43. The planet nearest to the Sun is - [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]

(a) Mercury
(b) Earth
(c) Venus
(d) Pluto

Correct Answer: (a) Mercury

Solution:The correctly matched list is as follows:

Special Characteristics	Name of Planets
Smallest planet of the solar system	Pluto (After it was removed from the group of planets, Mercury is the smallest)
Largest planet of the solar system	Jupiter
Planet second to the Sun in the solar system	Venus
Planet nearest to the Sun	Mercury

44. Which of the following pairs is not properly matched? [U.P.PC.S. (Mains) 2011]

Special Characteristics	Name of Planets
(a) The largest planet of the Solar System	Jupiter
(b) The smallest planet of the Solar System	Mercury
(c) The brightest planet of the Solar System	Venus
(d) The slowest moving planet of the Solar System	Mars

Correct Answer: (d)

Solution:

All of the given options are true, except option (d) because the slowest moving planet of the solar system is Neptune. Its orbital velocity is lowest among all planets and takes 59800 Earth day (approx 164 years) to complete one revolution around the sun

45. Arrange the following in decreasing order of size and select the correct answer from the codes given below: [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

1.Jupiter

2. Uranus

3. Earth

4. Saturn

Code:

(a) 1, 4, 3, 2
(b) 4, 1, 2, 3
(c) 1, 4, 2, 3
(d) 4, 1, 3, 2

Correct Answer: (c) 1, 4, 2, 3

Solution:The descending order of the size of given planets is as follows-

Jupiter > Saturn > Uranus > Earth. Size of planets in decreasing order is as follows. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury

46. Hydrogen, Helium and Methane are the main gases present on [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]

Correct Answer: (e) Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Solution:Hydrogen, Helium and Methane gases are present on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Though the composition of these planets is quite similar to their parent star, i.e., Sun, their core is liquid with gaseous outer layers. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are the four outer planets from left to right. Due to their distinct characteristics like numerous moons, magnetosphere, planetary rings, and significant atmospheric activity, these outer planets of the solar system are distinct from the inner planets, although they lack a solid surface. Methane absorbs red light and reflects blue light, which is why Uranus and Neptune appear blue. Uranus and Neptune are often referred to as "ice giants" because of their composition of ices, such as water, ammonia, and methane. The order of the planets from the sun is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

47. Which of the following is not a planet of Solar System? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

(a) Mercury
(b) Florida
(c) Venus
(d) Saturn

Correct Answer: (b) Florida

Solution:Mercury, Venus and Saturn are the planets of the solar system while Florida is a State of United State of America. The order of the planets from the sun is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

48. 'The term 'Goldilocks Zone' is often seen in the news in the context of [I.A.S. (Pre) 2015]

(a) The limits of the habitable zone above the surface of the Earth
(b) Regions inside the Earth where shale gas is available
(c) Search for the Earth-like planets in outer space
(d) Search for meteorites containing precious metals

Correct Answer: (c) Search for the Earth-like planets in outer space

Solution:

In Astronomy, the circumstellar habitual zone is also called 'Goldilocks Zone'. It refers to the habitable zone around a star where the temperature is just right- not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist on a planet. Earth is the only planet inhabiting life in the entire solar system. It is the only planet situated in the Goldilocks zone of the solar system.

49. Match list - I with list-II and choose the correct answer by using codes given below - [U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 1999]

List - I	List - II
(A) Planet	1. Moon
(B) Satellite	2. Uranus
(C) Comet	3. Mariner
(D) Planetoid or artificial Satellite	4. Halley

Code:

	A	B	C	D
(a)	2	1	4	3
(b)	1	2	3	4
(c)	4	3	1	2
(d)	2	1	3	4

Correct Answer: (a)

Solution:Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun, known as an "ice giant" due to its composition of water, methane, and ammonia. Moon is the Earth's only natural satellite, a celestial body that orbits our planet. Halley is a periodic comet that returns to the inner solar system approximately every 76 years, last seen in 1986 and predicted to return in 2061. Mariner is a series of spacecraft designed by NASA to explore the inner solar system, with Mariner 9 becoming the first artificial satellite of Mars.

50. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the solar system? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]

I. Mercury is the hottest planet in the solar system

II. Ganymede, satellite of Saturn, is the largest satellite in the solar system

III. Neptune is surrounded by methane gas rings of sub-zero temperature

IV. Phobos and Deimos are two satellites of Mars

(a) Only I and II are correct
(b) Only II and III are correct
(c) Only III and IV are correct
(d) I, II, III and IV all are correct

Correct Answer: (c) Only III and IV are correct

Solution:Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system, not Mercury.

This is, because its dense atmosphere acts as a greenhouse and heats the surface to about 464°C.

Ganymede is the largest satellite in the solar system, but it is a satellite of Jupiter, not Saturn.

Neptune is surrounded by methane gas rings of sub-zero temperature.

Mars has two small moons: Phobos and Deimos.

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