Physics miscellaneous


  1. Which of the following circuit elements is used to ‘block’ DC in an electronic circuit ?









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    A capacitor (originally known as condenser) is a passive two-terminal electrical component used to store energy in an electric field. Capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits for blocking direct current while allowing alternating current to pass, in filter networks, for smoothing the output of power supplies, in the resonant circuits that tune radios to particular frequencies, in electric power transmission systems for stabilizing voltage and power flow, and for many other purposes. The capacitance is greatest when there is a narrow separation between large areas of conductor; hence capacitor conductors are often called plates, referring to an early means of construction.

    Correct Option: B

    A capacitor (originally known as condenser) is a passive two-terminal electrical component used to store energy in an electric field. Capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits for blocking direct current while allowing alternating current to pass, in filter networks, for smoothing the output of power supplies, in the resonant circuits that tune radios to particular frequencies, in electric power transmission systems for stabilizing voltage and power flow, and for many other purposes. The capacitance is greatest when there is a narrow separation between large areas of conductor; hence capacitor conductors are often called plates, referring to an early means of construction.


  1. Smog is a combination of









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    Smog is a type of air pollution; the word “smog” was coined in the early 20th century as a portmanteau of the words smoke and fog to refer to smoky fog. The word was then intended to refer to what was sometimes known as pea soup fog, a familiar and serious problem in London from the 19th century to the mid 20th century. This kind of smog is caused by the burning of large amounts of coal within a city; this smog contains soot particulates from smoke, sulfur dioxide and other components. Modern smog, as found for example in Los Angeles, is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine with the primary emissions to form photochemical smog.

    Correct Option: D

    Smog is a type of air pollution; the word “smog” was coined in the early 20th century as a portmanteau of the words smoke and fog to refer to smoky fog. The word was then intended to refer to what was sometimes known as pea soup fog, a familiar and serious problem in London from the 19th century to the mid 20th century. This kind of smog is caused by the burning of large amounts of coal within a city; this smog contains soot particulates from smoke, sulfur dioxide and other components. Modern smog, as found for example in Los Angeles, is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine with the primary emissions to form photochemical smog.



  1. Which of the following celestial bodies contains abundant quantities of helium-3, a potential source of energy ?









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    The Moon and other celestial bodies contain a vast amount of natural resources. One, and in abundance, is helium-3. It is estimated that forty tons of it can meet twenty five percent of the global energy demand for one year. This clean, nonradioactive and safe source of energy scarcely exists on Earth. Helium-3 derives from the dismantlement of old and outdated nuclear warheads. Helium-3 is used within medicine, scientific research, and well logging operations in the oil and gas industry, and for homeland security. Major space nations such as Russia, China, India, and Japan appear to have integrated within their space programmes to commercially exploit the Moon for helium-3 in the future.

    Correct Option: B

    The Moon and other celestial bodies contain a vast amount of natural resources. One, and in abundance, is helium-3. It is estimated that forty tons of it can meet twenty five percent of the global energy demand for one year. This clean, nonradioactive and safe source of energy scarcely exists on Earth. Helium-3 derives from the dismantlement of old and outdated nuclear warheads. Helium-3 is used within medicine, scientific research, and well logging operations in the oil and gas industry, and for homeland security. Major space nations such as Russia, China, India, and Japan appear to have integrated within their space programmes to commercially exploit the Moon for helium-3 in the future.


  1. What should a person on a freely rotating turn table do to decrease his (angular) speed ?









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    The answer is related to the conservation of angular momentum. The person on the rotating table will maintain approximately the same angular momentum during the spin. If he moves his arms in, it will reduce the rotational inertia by reducing the distance of the mass of her arms and hands from the axis of rotation. In order to maintain the same angular momentum, angular rotation is increased. However, when he spreads his hands outward, the angular rotation is decreased. The spin becomes slower.

    Correct Option: C

    The answer is related to the conservation of angular momentum. The person on the rotating table will maintain approximately the same angular momentum during the spin. If he moves his arms in, it will reduce the rotational inertia by reducing the distance of the mass of her arms and hands from the axis of rotation. In order to maintain the same angular momentum, angular rotation is increased. However, when he spreads his hands outward, the angular rotation is decreased. The spin becomes slower.



  1. An egg sinks in soft water but floats in a concentrated solution of salt because









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    Following the density principle, the density of the egg compared to the density of the tap water is lesser (the density principle states that an object or substance with lesser density will float on the surface of the substance or object which has the greater density). Now, with salt, salt makes the density of the tap water to increase and increases also the salinity of the water making the egg float because the density of the water with salt is now greater than the density of the egg and that is why an egg sinks in soft water but floats in a concentrated solution of salt.

    Correct Option: C

    Following the density principle, the density of the egg compared to the density of the tap water is lesser (the density principle states that an object or substance with lesser density will float on the surface of the substance or object which has the greater density). Now, with salt, salt makes the density of the tap water to increase and increases also the salinity of the water making the egg float because the density of the water with salt is now greater than the density of the egg and that is why an egg sinks in soft water but floats in a concentrated solution of salt.