Geography · Physics

Geodesy and Celestial Mechanics

1,049 Questions

Geodesy and celestial mechanics questions explore Earth measurements, great circles, and planetary motions. These concepts form a crucial part of physical geography and astronomy in competitive exams. Practice these questions to grasp longitudinal and latitudinal calculations.

Longitude and latitude calculationsGreat circle conceptEarths axial precessionLagrangian pointsAtmosphere boundary

Geodesy and Celestial Mechanics Questions

Multiple choice

What does the Mercator projection refer to?

  1. lines of longitude and latitude drawn in curved lines

  2. high altitude contours

  3. lines of latitude and longitude drawn in straight lines

  4. equatorial belt

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Mercator projection is a cylindrical map projection where all meridians (longitude) and parallels (latitude) are represented as straight lines intersecting at right angles. This preserves angles and shapes but distorts size, especially near the poles.

Multiple choice

The oceans cover ………of the surface of the earth.

  1. 50%

  2. 60%

  3. 71%

  4. 80%
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Approximately 71% of Earth's surface is covered by oceans, with the Pacific Ocean alone covering about 46% of water surface and 30% of Earth's total surface. The remaining 29% is land (continents and islands). This percentage is relatively stable over geological time scales.

Multiple choice

Light years is used to measure distance between _______.

  1. two points on earth

  2. stars

  3. both 1 and 2

  4. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A light year is a unit of distance used in astronomy to measure vast distances between stars and galaxies. It represents the distance light travels in one year (about 9.46 trillion kilometers or 5.88 trillion miles). This unit is impractical for Earth-bound distances due to its enormous scale.

Multiple choice

9.46 × 1012 km is value of _________.

  1. 1 Light year

  2. 1 Parsec

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

One light year equals approximately 9.46 trillion km (9.46 × 10^12 km), which is the distance light travels in vacuum in one year at 299,792 km/s. A parsec is about 3.26 light years.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?

  1. More than 80% of the world's population lives in the Northern Hemisphere.
  2. 100N to 300N is the most populated zone of the world.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: More than 90% of the world's population lives in the Northern Hemisphere. Statement 2 is incorrect: The most populated zone of the world is 200N to 400N, where more than 50% of the world's population lives.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. The Indian mainland extends between latitudes 8o4'N and 37o6'N and longitudes 68o7'E and 97o25'E. b. It lies completely in the Southern hemisphere. c. The tropic of capricorn divides the country into two parts.

  1. a, b and c

  2. a and b

  3. a and c

  4. b and c

  5. a only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as this is the correct statement. The Indian mainland extends between latitudes 8°4'N and 37°6'N and longitudes 68°7'E and 97°25'E.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are true?

  1. Crossing of the international date line entails repeating one day when traveling eastwards
  2. International date line divides the Pacific ocean into two equal parts
  3. Internationally date line is an internationally agreed line drawn parallel to the 180 degree meridian.
  4. Crossing of the international date line entails repeating one day when traveling westwards.

  1. 4 alone

  2. 1 alone

  3. 2,3 and 4

  4. 1,2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1: Crossing eastward across the International Date Line means you go into the previous day (repeat a day). TRUE. Statement 2: The IDL roughly divides the Pacific Ocean into two equal parts along the 180° meridian. TRUE. Statement 3: The IDL follows the 180° meridian with deviations for political boundaries. TRUE. Statement 4: Crossing westward does NOT repeat a day - you advance to the next day. FALSE. Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct.

Multiple choice

One degree of the circumference of Earth measures (approximately)

  1. 111 km

  2. 105 km

  3. 101 km

  4. 120 km
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Earth's circumference is approximately 40,075 km at the equator. Dividing by 360 degrees gives about 111 km per degree. This is a standard approximation used in geography and navigation. 105 km (B) and 101 km (C) are too small, while 120 km (D) is too large.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the given statements and choose the incorrect statement(s).

(a) The Moon is 3,84,400 km away from Earth. (b) The Earth is called a red planet. (c) Venus is also called the sister planet of Earth. (d) The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth.

  1. Only (a)

  2. Only (b)

  3. Only (c)

  4. Both (a) and (c)

  5. Only (d)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. The Earth is not called a red planet, but is called a blue planet.

Multiple choice

The Pole star lies very close to the axis of rotation of the Earth. Which of the following observations can be made, based on the above fact?

  1. Pole star appears to move from east to west.

  2. Pole star appears to move from west to east.

  3. Pole star does not appear to move.

  4. Pole star appears as the brightest star in the sky.

  5. Pole star appears very faintly in the sky.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Pole star is situated in the direction of the earth's axis. Due to this, it does not appear to move.