Geography · Physics

Geodesy and Celestial Mechanics

984 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

How much of Earth is covered by glacier today?

  1. 12%

  2. 10%

  3. 20%

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

Currently, glaciers and ice sheets cover about 10 percent of the Earth's total land area. Most of this ice is located in Antarctica and Greenland, though glaciers are found on every continent except Australia. During the last ice age, this coverage was much higher.

Multiple choice

Guess the distance between Earth and Sun.

  1. 13 lakh km

  2. 15 crore km

  3. 15 lakh km

  4. 13000 km

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

The average distance between the Earth and the Sun is approximately 149.6 million kilometers. In the Indian numbering system, 150 million is expressed as 15 crore.

Multiple choice

The thermal equator is found at?

  1. North of geographical equator

  2. South of geographical equator

  3. The equator

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The thermal equator is the belt encircling the Earth where the mean temperature is the highest. Due to the distribution of land and sea, it is generally located slightly north of the geographical equator.

Multiple choice

The word used to describe the shape of earth is?

  1. Sphere

  2. Oblate spheroid

  3. Circle

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

The Earth is not a perfect sphere; it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator due to its rotation. This specific shape is called an oblate spheroid or a geoid. While it looks like a sphere from a distance, the oblate spheroid is the more precise geometric description.

Multiple choice

Now Halley comet will be seen in

  1. 2035

  2. 2096

  3. 2056

  4. 2062

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

Halley's Comet has an orbital period of approximately 76 years. Having last appeared in 1986, it is calculated to return to the inner solar system in mid-2061 to early 2062.

Multiple choice

The longitude at 0° is called

  1. Prime Meridian

  2. Equator

  3. Tropic of Cancer

  4. Tropic of Capricorn
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Prime Meridian is the longitude line defined as 0 degrees, passing through Greenwich, England.

Multiple choice

The latitude at 0° is called

  1. Equator

  2. Prime Meridian

  3. Greenwich Meridian

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Equator is the line of 0 degrees latitude, which divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Multiple choice

The difference in the duration of day and night increases as one moves from

  1. east and west of the prime meridian

  2. west to east

  3. poles to equator

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

The difference in the duration of day and night is caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis. This difference is zero at the equator and increases as one moves toward the poles, where the variation is most extreme.