UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we will cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Environment, Geography, Science and Technology to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the Economy Quiz.

With reference to the superconductivity, consider the following statements:

1. It can be achieved at very low temperatures.

2. Germanium was the first material discovered to have superconductive properties.

3. It refers to a state in which a material offers maximum resistance to electric current.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Consider the following pairs:

How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Consider the following Islands:

1. Agatti Island

2. Cinque Island

3. Kiltan Island

4. Rutland Island

5. Bitra Island

How many of the Islands given above are part of Lakshadweep?

(a) Only two

(b) Only three

(c) Only four

(d) All five

Consider the following statements:

1. Perihelion is the point when the Earth is at the farthest distance from the Sun.

2. Aphelion is the point at which the Earth is closest to the Sun.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Consider the following:

1. Diagnostics of the coronal and coronal loops plasma

2. To carry out polarisation and spectroscopic measurements of X-ray emissions

3. To measure polarisation of X-rays

How many of the above are objectives of XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite)?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

FYI:

— Superconductivity refers to a state in which a material offers zero, or near-zero, resistance to electric current. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— A current is nothing but the movement of charged particles, electrons in most cases, in a particular direction. When the electrons move, they collide and interact, with other atoms in the material.

— Resistance involves a loss of energy, mostly in the form of heat. Part of the reason why electrical appliances get heated is this resistance.

— Elimination of this resistance can result in super-efficient electrical appliances, the removal of transmission losses in power cables, and massive gains in energy.

— Superconducting materials show very interesting behaviour under a magnetic field which allows the functioning of systems like the MRI scan machine and the superfast Maglev trains that float above the tracks.

— As of now, superconductivity can be achieved at very low temperatures, more than 250 degree Celsius below zero, very close to absolute zero which is – 273 degree Celsius. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The first material to have been discovered to show super conductive properties was Mercury, which becomes a superconductor at close to 270 degrees Celsius below zero. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Most of the other materials commonly used as superconductors – Lead, Aluminum, Tin, Niobium, and several others – also become superconducting at comparable temperatures, called critical temperature.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent trip to Lakshadweep has catapulted the islands into national conversation.

— The Island lies about 400 km off the coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea, the picturesque islands have long been touted as a “hidden gem” for Indian tourists.

— The majority of its inhabitants are Muslim, the Islam practised in Lakshadweep is unlike that followed anywhere else in India, with islanders sharing ethnic, linguistic and cultural links to Malyalis, Arabs, Tamils and Kannadigas alike.

— The important Islands which form the part of Lakshadweep are Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bitra, Kiltan, Kavaratti, Minicoy, etc. On the other hand, Cinque Island and Rutland Island are part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: lakshadweep.gov.in)

FYI:

— The word perihelion comes from the Greek words peri (meaning near) and helios (meaning “sun”). Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Our solar system’s planets, comets, and asteroids all have elliptical orbits. As a result, they all have a perihelion and an aphelion distance from the Sun.

— Perihelion (first week in January) is also the day when the Sun appears the biggest in the sky but a three per cent difference in size is pretty much imperceptible to the human eye.

— Aphelion (first week of July) is the point at which the Earth is farthest from the Sun. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) put its first polarimetry mission X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) in a precise circular orbit of 650 km.

— X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is India’s maiden mission dedicated to analysing the polarisation of X-rays emanating from bright celestial sources in the medium frequency band.

— It comprises two major payloads, including Indian X-ray Polarimeter (POLIX) and X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing (XSPECT). They have been built by Raman Research Institute and UR Rao Satellite Centre, both located in Bengaluru.

— The objectives of this mission are:

(i) POLIX payload will use Thomson Scattering to assess the polarisation of X-rays in the energy band 8-30keV emanating from approximately 50 possible cosmic sources.

(ii) The XSPECT payload will conduct long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources in the energy range 0.8-15keV.

(iii) POLIX and XSPECT payloads will perform polarisation and spectroscopic measurements of X-ray emissions from cosmic sources in the common energy range.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.isro.gov.in)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 40)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 40)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 39)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 39)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 39)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.