Science General · Geography

Astronomy and Celestial Phenomena

1,839 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 geography ocean movements of ocean and sea water oceanic circulations circulation of ocean water oceans : temperature, salinity and density tsunami and floods

Neap tides, i.e., small tides are caused when _____________________.

  1. Sun, and moon are at right angles

  2. Sun, earth and moon are in one line

  3. There is new moon

  4. There is full moon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Neap tides occur when the sun and moon are at right angles relative to the earth, causing their gravitational forces to partially cancel each other out, resulting in lower high tides.

Multiple choice geography ocean movements of ocean and sea water oceanic circulations circulation of ocean water oceans : temperature, salinity and density tsunami and floods

Spring tides are caused, when _____________________.

  1. The earth, moon and sun are in a line

  2. The moon and sun are on a line

  3. The sun and moon are at right angles to each other and the earth is at the centre

  4. There is new moon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Spring tides occur when the earth, moon, and sun are aligned, causing their gravitational forces to combine and produce higher high tides and lower low tides.

Multiple choice geography ocean movements of ocean and sea water oceanic circulations circulation of ocean water oceans : temperature, salinity and density tsunami and floods

Neap tides occur _______________.

  1. On new and full moon days

  2. On first and third quarters of the month

  3. Twice daily

  4. On every full moon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Neap tides occur during the first and third quarters of the moon phase, when the sun and moon are at right angles to the earth.

Multiple choice evs sun and planets moon the moon's path in the sky the moon

Fill in the blank:

During one synodic month, the Moon takes ______ complete revolution around the Earth with respect to the background stars.

  1. $1$
  2. $0.5$
  3. $2$
  4. $0.25$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
The time taken by the Moon to complete one revolution around the Earth with reference to the background stars, is called a synodic month.
Multiple choice evs sun and planets moon the moon's path in the sky the moon

On which day is the whole disc of the Moon visible?

  1. New moon day

  2. Full moon day

  3. Half moon day

  4. Crescent moon day
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

On a full moon day, the entire bright or illuminated part of the Moon faces the Earth. Hence it is visible as a whole disc.

Multiple choice evs sun and planets moon the moon's path in the sky the moon

Fill  in the blank:

The smallest part of the moon that appears in the sky is called ________.

  1. full moon

  2. half moon

  3. crescent moon

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

The smallest part of visible moon is called crescent moon. It appears after and before the new moon day. This occurs because of continuous change in the shape of the bright part of the moon. This change is called phases of the moon.

Multiple choice evs sun and planets moon the moon's path in the sky the moon

Why can life not exist on Moon?

  1. Moon is very far from the Earth.

  2. There is no atmosphere and water on the Moon.

  3. Moon is a satellite of the Earth.

  4. The time taken for one rotation and one revolution of the Moon is same.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

For life to exist, water is very essential. However, there is no water as well as no atmosphere on the Moon. Hence, life cannot exist on Moon.

Multiple choice evs sun and planets moon the moon's path in the sky the moon

Fill in the blank:

The size of the visible part of the Moon _______ gradually after the full moon day till the new moon day.

  1. remains the same

  2. increases

  3. decreases

  4. either increases or decreases
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Moon revolves around the Earth from East to West. Along with the Earth it also revolves around the Sun. Moon does not have its own light. Hence, we can see only that part of the moon that is illuminated by the Sun. When the moon is in the East, it lies somewhere between the Earth and the Sun. Thus the illuminated part faces the Sun and the dark part faces the Earth. Thus we cannot see any moon in the sky. This is the new moon day. After this, gradually the Moon starts moving towards the West through North. As it moves in this path, the illuminated part of the Moon gradually faces the Earth and we see the phases of the Moon from new moon, to crescent moon. Then half moon, and finally the full moon, when it reaches the West, in the West, the entire illuminated part of the moon faces the Earth and it is the full moon day. Then moon gradually starts moving towards the east once again through south and the visible part of the moon goes on decreasing in the same manner until the new moon day and the cycle keeps repeating itself. Thus we see the phases of Moon. It takes 15 days for the moon from new moon day to full moon day and another 15 days from full moon day to new moon day.

Multiple choice evs sun and planets moon the moon's path in the sky the moon

Surface of the Moon is

  1. dusty and barren.

  2. having many craters and mountains.

  3. rough and irregular.

  4. as all of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

According to the astronauts the surface of the Moon is rough, dusty, barren and irregular. It has large craters on its surface and many steep and high mountains.

Multiple choice evs sun and planets moon the moon's path in the sky the moon

If new moon day is day $1$, then what is the day when half of the moon is visible?

  1. $10$
  2. $3$
  3. $7$
  4. $14$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

If new moon day is day $1$, then-

Day $3$ - Crescent moon
Day $7$ - Half moon
Day $10$ - Gibbous moon (or waxing)
Day $14$ - Full moon

Multiple choice evs sun and planets moon the moon's path in the sky the moon

If new moon day is day $1$, then what is the day of the crescent moon?

  1. $7$
  2. $10$
  3. $3$
  4. $14$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

If new moon day is day $1$, then:

Day $3$ - Crescent moon
Day $7$ - Half moon
Day $10$ - Gibbous moon (or waxing)
Day $14$ - Full moon

Multiple choice geography how seasons occur - part i how seasons occur rotation and calculation of time seasons and time

The summer solstice in northern hemisphere occurs when the sun is directly overhead at noon on _________________.

  1. The Tropic of Capricorn

  2. The Tropic of Cancer

  3. The equator

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The summer solstice in the northern hemisphere occurs when the Sun is directly overhead at noon on the Tropic of Cancer. The summer solstice happens on 21 June. This day has the longest daylight time.