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
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reflected sunlight
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damaged sunlight
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stolen sunlight
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Moonlight is simply sunlight that has been reflected off the surface of the moon back to Earth.
B
Correct answer
Explanation
The tilt of Earth's axis means different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of direct sunlight as Earth revolves around the sun. This variation creates the cycle of seasons.
C
Correct answer
Explanation
When a location on Earth faces away from the sun, it is not receiving direct sunlight, resulting in night. Day occurs when the location is facing toward the sun.
A
Correct answer
Explanation
When a location on Earth faces the sun, it receives direct light, which we experience as daytime. Night occurs when the Earth has rotated away from the sun.
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Lunar eclipse
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phase
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rotation
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Solar eclipse
A
Correct answer
Explanation
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow onto the Moon's surface. A solar eclipse is the reverse.
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phase
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axis
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solar eclipse
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lunar eclipse
C
Correct answer
Explanation
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, blocking the Sun's light and casting a shadow on Earth. This is distinct from a lunar eclipse.
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phase
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crater
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axis
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revolution
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Moon phases are the different appearances of the moon as seen from Earth, caused by the changing relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.
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solar eclipse
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phase
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axis
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rotation
C
Correct answer
Explanation
An axis is the imaginary line through the center of an object, such as a planet, around which it rotates. It is the pivot point for rotation.
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Revolution
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Crater
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Phase
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Solar System
D
Correct answer
Explanation
The solar system consists of the Sun and all the objects bound to it by gravity, including planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.
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Venus covers moon
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Moon is in Earth’s shadow
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Sun covers moon
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Moon covers sun
B
Correct answer
Explanation
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through Earth's shadow. During this event, the Moon appears reddish due to Earth's atmosphere refracting sunlight.
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The moon covers the Sun on ground view
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Sun covers the moon on ground view
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Mars covers the moon on earth view
A
Correct answer
Explanation
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun's light and casting a shadow on Earth's surface.
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The order of planets from the Sun is Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. This corresponds to SME (Sun, Mercury, Earth) when referring to the inner three planets.
A large object is placed at exactly $65$% of the distance to the moon from the earth. Find out correct statement about the object ?
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Fall to the sun
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Fall to the moon
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Fall to the earth
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Remain in the same place
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Drift out of the solar system
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The mass of moon is $1.2$% of that of earth. Hence $M _{moon}=0.012M _{earth}$
The acceleration due to gravity of the earth=$\dfrac{GM _{earth}}{(0.65R)^2}$
The acceleration due to gravity of the moon=$\dfrac{GM _{moon}}{(0.35R)^2}$
Hence $g _{earth}>g _{moon}$, and thus object falls towards the earth.
Both earth and moon are subject to the gravitational force to the sun. As observed from the sun, the orbit of the moon
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will be elliptical.
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will not be strictly elliptical because the total gravitational force on it is not central.
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is not elliptical but will necessarily be closed curve.
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deviates considerably from being elliptical due to influence of plants other than earth.
B
Correct answer
Explanation
If the moon were to
experience only the gravitation of the earth only then the path would have been
elliptical but in the present case moon experience the gravitational force of
sun as well which distorts the path.
Why does radio reception improve slightly during the night ?
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The outside noise is reduced very much at night.
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Unlike the daytime, only a few radio stations broadcast during the night.
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Sunlight affects radio broadcasts to some extent during the day.
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The magnetic field of the earth acts with reduced intensity during the night, thereby reducing its impact on broadcasts.
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Answer is C.
The D region is the lowest of the regions within the ionosphere that affects radio communications signals to any degree. It is present at altitudes between about 60 and 90 kilometers and the radiation within it is only present during the day to an extent that affects radio waves noticeably. It is sustained by the radiation from the Sun and levels of ionization fall rapidly at dusk when the source of radiation is removed. It mainly has the affect of absorbing or attenuating radio communications signals particularly in the LF and MF portions of the radio spectrum, its affect reducing with frequency. At night it has little effect on most radio communications signals although there is still a sufficient level of ionization for it to refract VLF signals.
Hence, radio reception improve slightly during the night because, sunlight affects radio broadcasts to some extent during the day.