Physics · General Awareness

Astrophysics and Cosmology

1,697 Questions

Delve into the mysteries of the universe with questions on black holes, gravitational waves, and spacetime concepts. Topics include the event horizon, the LIGO experiment, and mathematical techniques used in Twistor Theory. These advanced physics concepts are frequently tested in science optional papers.

Black hole physicsGravitational waves and lensingGeneral relativity principlesElectromagnetic spectrum regionsCosmological phenomena

Astrophysics and Cosmology Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

The black hole has entered the popular imagination as an object too massive that neither light nor matter can escape its gravitational pull.

  1. too massive that neither light nor matter can escape its

  2. too massive for either allowing light or matter to escape its

  3. massive enough that either light or matter cannot escape their

  4. so massive that neither light nor matter could escape their

  5. so massive that neither light nor matter can escape its
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The correct idiom is 'so massive that' not 'too massive that.' When expressing cause and effect relationships with 'that' clauses, use 'so [adjective] that.' Option E correctly uses 'so massive that neither light nor matter can escape its gravitational pull.' Option A incorrectly uses 'too massive that.' Options B and D have additional issues with parallel structure and pronoun agreement ('their' instead of 'its'). Option C incorrectly changes the meaning by using 'massive enough that either' which suggests only one needs to escape.

Multiple choice

Black holes were predicted by

  1. Copernicus

  2. Hermamn Bondi

  3. Rutherford

  4. Einstein
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Einstein's general theory of relativity (1915) predicted that massive stars could collapse under their own gravity to form what we now call black holes. The term 'black hole' was coined later, but the theoretical foundation came from Einstein's work showing how extreme gravity could bend spacetime so severely that not even light could escape.

Multiple choice

A star will compress itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole after it passes through a red giant stage, depending on mass.

  1. A star will compress itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole after it passes through a red giant stage, depending on mass.

  2. After passing through a red giant stage, depending on its mass, a star will compress itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.

  3. After passing through a red giant stage, a star's mass will determine if it compresses itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.

  4. Mass determines whether a star, after passing through the red giant stage, will compress itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.

  5. The mass of a star, after passing through the red giant stage, will determine whether it compresses itself into a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

None other than option 4 provides the correct explanation. It correctly explains that what will be the final nature of a star after passing through a stage.

Multiple choice

Directions: For each blank select one entry from the corresponding column of choices. Fill all the blanks in the way that best completes the sentence. A black hole is a body which is (i)__ because its gravitational pull is so strong that even light cannot escape from its __(ii)_____ Blank (i) Blank (ii) dark vicinity imperceptible gravity invisible proximity

  1. invisible, gravity

  2. invisible, vicinity

  3. dark, proximity

  4. imperceptible, gravity

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The part of the sentence after ‘because’ provides explanation to the initial part of the sentence. The latter part of the sentence implies that the gravitational pull of the black hole in the universe is so     strong that it even pulls light and absorbs it. As no amount of light is allowed to reflect back, this makes the black hole invisible. Hence, (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Which of the following discoveries did Albert Einstein discover?

  1. Gravitation

  2. Relativity

  3. X-rays

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

Albert Einstein is famous for his theory of relativity, which fundamentally changed our understanding of space, time, and gravity. Gravitation was described by Newton, X-rays by Roentgen, and radioactivity by Becquerel.

Multiple choice

Which of the following fits gap (iii)?

Directions: Complete the passage by selecting the most suitable word/phrase from each list to fit the corresponding gap.

Black holes are the (i)______ objects in the Universe. A black hole (ii)_______ have a surface, like a planet or star. Instead, it is a region of space (iii)____ matter has fallen down on itself. This great fall results in a large amount of material packing up (iv)___ a really small area. The pulling force of this region is so great that nothing can escape – not even light.

  1. which

  2. that

  3. where

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

Correct option is (3).

Multiple choice

Which of the following fits gap (i)?

Directions: Complete the passage by selecting the most suitable word/phrase from each list to fit the corresponding gap.

Black holes are the (i)______ objects in the Universe. A black hole (ii)_______ have a surface, like a planet or star. Instead, it is a region of space (iii)____ matter has fallen down on itself. This great fall results in a large amount of material packing up (iv)___ a really small area. The pulling force of this region is so great that nothing can escape – not even light.

  1. strangest

  2. strange

  3. stranger

  4. more strange
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Correct option is (1).

Multiple choice

Which of the following fits gap (ii)?

Directions: Complete the passage by selecting the most suitable word/phrase from each list to fit the corresponding gap.

Black holes are the (i)______ objects in the Universe. A black hole (ii)_______ have a surface, like a planet or star. Instead, it is a region of space (iii)____ matter has fallen down on itself. This great fall results in a large amount of material packing up (iv)___ a really small area. The pulling force of this region is so great that nothing can escape – not even light.

  1. do not

  2. does not

  3. did not

  4. done not
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Correct option is (2).