Science General · Geography

Astronomy and Celestial Phenomena

1,884 Questions

This section provides practice questions on astronomy and celestial phenomena, focusing on eclipses, planetary movements, and tides. These concepts are commonly tested in general science sections of various competitive exams. Use this hub to practice questions related to the Earth, Moon, and solar system dynamics.

Solar and lunar eclipsesEquinoxes and solsticesPlanetary movementsOcean tidesCoriolis effectMeteor showers

Astronomy and Celestial Phenomena Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Which sentence is different in context from the others?

(I) Flying saucers is the name given to saucer-like shapes which have, on occasion, been seen traveling through the atmosphere. (II) For some time speculation was rife, especially in America, as to what they were. (III) So it is time they were taken seriously and studied scientifically. (IV) Now, however, it is believed that they are nothing more than atmospheric phenomena. (V) That is to say they are as unreal as mirages or mock suns caused by unusual atmospheric conditions

  1. (I)

  2. (II)

  3. (III)

  4. (IV)

  5. (V)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement III starts with' So it is time'.. there is no statement that gives any reason to start thinking about flying saucers seriously.

Multiple choice

Directions: The short passage below is followed by a question based on its content. Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

The tides are enormously more complicated than all this would suggest. The influence of sun and moon is constantly changing, varying with the phases of the moon, with the distance of moon and sun from the earth, and with the position of each to north or south of the equator. They are complicated further by the fact that every body of water, whether natural or artificial, has its own period of oscillation. Disturb its waters and they will move with a seesaw or rocking motion, with the most pronounced movement at the ends of the container, the least motion at the centre. Tidal scientists now believe that the ocean contains a number of 'basins,' each with its own period of oscillation determined by its length and depth. The disturbance that sets the water in motion is the attracting force of the moon and sun. But the kind of motion, that is, the period of the swing of the water, depends upon the physical dimensions of the basin.

What is the theme of the passage?

  1. The sun and the moon cause disturbance in the ocean water, which results in tides.

  2. The tides present a striking paradox: the force that sets them in motion is cosmic but the nature of the tide of any particular place is a local matter.

  3. The waxing and waning of the moon in its monthly cycle complicates the occurrence of tides.

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This option sums up the idea of the passage. The sun and the moon do cause “the disturbance”, but the kind of motion depends on the type of basin.

Multiple choice

Light year is a unit of

  1. intensity of light

  2. distance

  3. time

  4. planetary motion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A light year is the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one Julian year. It is a unit of length, not time or intensity.

Multiple choice

What is name given to dark patch on sun?

  1. Sun black

  2. Sun spot

  3. Sun mark

  4. Black spot
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the photosphere of the Sun that appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas. They are caused by magnetic flux that inhibits convection.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'toward' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

When the moon in its juornie (1) around the earth, passes directly between the earth and the sun, it casts (2) its shadow on the surface of the earth, and an eclipse of the sun takes place. An eclipse of the sun occurs only when the moon is new, for then (3) the moon is on that side of the earth facing toward (4) the sun. Then why isn’t there are eclipse of the sun every time there’s a new moon? The reason (5) is that the path of the moon around the earth does not lie directly (6) in line with the orbit of the earth about the sun. In its 29–day trip around (7) the earth, the moon passes sometimes above and sometimes below the path (8) of the earth.

  1. near

  2. on road to

  3. in the direction of

  4. just before
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Towards' is used here to tell about the direction in which the earth is facing.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'around' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

When the moon in its juornie (1) around the earth, passes directly between the earth and the sun, it casts (2) its shadow on the surface of the earth, and an eclipse of the sun takes place. An eclipse of the sun occurs only when the moon is new, for then (3) the moon is on that side of the earth facing toward (4) the sun. Then why isn’t there are eclipse of the sun every time there’s a new moon? The reason (5) is that the path of the moon around the earth does not lie directly (6) in line with the orbit of the earth about the sun. In its 29–day trip around (7) the earth, the moon passes sometimes above and sometimes below the path (8) of the earth.

  1. toward

  2. ahead

  3. about

  4. under
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The moon makes a 29-day trip about the earth.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'path' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

When the moon in its juornie (1) around the earth, passes directly between the earth and the sun, it casts (2) its shadow on the surface of the earth, and an eclipse of the sun takes place. An eclipse of the sun occurs only when the moon is new, for then (3) the moon is on that side of the earth facing toward (4) the sun. Then why isn’t there are eclipse of the sun every time there’s a new moon? The reason (5) is that the path of the moon around the earth does not lie directly (6) in line with the orbit of the earth about the sun. In its 29–day trip around (7) the earth, the moon passes sometimes above and sometimes below the path (8) of the earth.

  1. lane

  2. side

  3. course

  4. face
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Path' here means the route or the course of the earth.