Physics miscellaneous


  1. Intensity of gravitational field of earth is maximum at









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    A perfect sphere of spherically uniform density (density varies solely with distance from centre) would produce a gravitational field of uniform magnitude at all points on its surface, always pointing directly towards the sphere’s centre. However, the Earth deviates slightly from this ideal, and there are consequently slight deviations in both the magnitude and direction of gravity across its surface. Furthermore, the net force exerted on an object due to the Earth, called “effective gravity” or “apparent gravity”, varies due to the presence of other factors, such as inertial response to the Earth’s rotation. A scale or plumb bob measures only this effective gravity. The major reason for the difference in gravity at different latitudes is that the Earth’s equatorial bulge (itself also caused by inertia) causes objects at the Equator to be farther from the planet’s centre than objects at the poles. Because the force due to gravitational attraction between two bodies (the Earth and the object being weighed) varies inversely with the square of the distance between them, an object at the Equator experiences a weaker gravitational pull than an object at the poles.

    Correct Option: A

    A perfect sphere of spherically uniform density (density varies solely with distance from centre) would produce a gravitational field of uniform magnitude at all points on its surface, always pointing directly towards the sphere’s centre. However, the Earth deviates slightly from this ideal, and there are consequently slight deviations in both the magnitude and direction of gravity across its surface. Furthermore, the net force exerted on an object due to the Earth, called “effective gravity” or “apparent gravity”, varies due to the presence of other factors, such as inertial response to the Earth’s rotation. A scale or plumb bob measures only this effective gravity. The major reason for the difference in gravity at different latitudes is that the Earth’s equatorial bulge (itself also caused by inertia) causes objects at the Equator to be farther from the planet’s centre than objects at the poles. Because the force due to gravitational attraction between two bodies (the Earth and the object being weighed) varies inversely with the square of the distance between them, an object at the Equator experiences a weaker gravitational pull than an object at the poles.


  1. If a boy sitting in a train, which is moving at a constant velocity, throws a ball straight up into the air, the ball will









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    If a person throws a ball vertically upwards in a moving train, it comes back to his hand. The moment the ball was thrown, the ball was also in motion alone with the person who had thrown the ball and the train. This is due to inertia of motion. So when the ball remains in the air, both the person and the ball move ahead by the same distance. This makes the ball to come back to his hand on its return.

    Correct Option: C

    If a person throws a ball vertically upwards in a moving train, it comes back to his hand. The moment the ball was thrown, the ball was also in motion alone with the person who had thrown the ball and the train. This is due to inertia of motion. So when the ball remains in the air, both the person and the ball move ahead by the same distance. This makes the ball to come back to his hand on its return.



  1. Angle of friction and angle of repose are









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    The angle of repose or the critical angle of repose, of a granular material is the steepest angle of descent or dip of the slope relative to the horizontal plane when material on the slope face is on the verge of sliding. This angle is in the range 0°–90°.When bulk granular materials are poured onto a horizontal surface, a conical pile will form. The internal angle between the surface of the pile and the horizontal surface is known as the angle of repose and is related to the density, surface area and shapes of the particles, and the coefficient of friction of the material. For certain applications it is more useful to define static friction in terms of the maximum angle before which one of the items will begin sliding. This is called the angle of friction or friction angle. The tangent of the angle of friction is equal to the coefficient of friction. Angle of friction is equal to the angle of repose.

    Correct Option: A

    The angle of repose or the critical angle of repose, of a granular material is the steepest angle of descent or dip of the slope relative to the horizontal plane when material on the slope face is on the verge of sliding. This angle is in the range 0°–90°.When bulk granular materials are poured onto a horizontal surface, a conical pile will form. The internal angle between the surface of the pile and the horizontal surface is known as the angle of repose and is related to the density, surface area and shapes of the particles, and the coefficient of friction of the material. For certain applications it is more useful to define static friction in terms of the maximum angle before which one of the items will begin sliding. This is called the angle of friction or friction angle. The tangent of the angle of friction is equal to the coefficient of friction. Angle of friction is equal to the angle of repose.


  1. Curie point is the temperature at which









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    In physics and materials science, the Curie temperature (Tc), or Curie point, is the temperature at which a ferromagnetic or a ferromagnetic material becomes paramagnetic on heating; the effect is reversible. A magnet will lose its magnetism if heated above the Curie temperature. The term is also used in piezoelectric materials to refer to the temperature at which spontaneous polarization is lost on heating.

    Correct Option: B

    In physics and materials science, the Curie temperature (Tc), or Curie point, is the temperature at which a ferromagnetic or a ferromagnetic material becomes paramagnetic on heating; the effect is reversible. A magnet will lose its magnetism if heated above the Curie temperature. The term is also used in piezoelectric materials to refer to the temperature at which spontaneous polarization is lost on heating.



  1. What changes will happen to a bowl of ice and water kept at exactly zero degree Celsius ?









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    Fresh water cooled to zero (0) degree Celsius and subjected to additional loss of heat energy normally will freeze. A mixture of fresh water and ice has an equilibrium temperature of zero (0) degree Celsius. Adding heat to the mixture causes ice to melt whereas removing heat causes water to freeze. For that reason, 0 (zero) degree Celsius is called the freezing point of fresh water. Cloud droplets can cool well below the usual freezing point while remaining liquid. Such cloud droplets are composed of super cooled water.

    Correct Option: C

    Fresh water cooled to zero (0) degree Celsius and subjected to additional loss of heat energy normally will freeze. A mixture of fresh water and ice has an equilibrium temperature of zero (0) degree Celsius. Adding heat to the mixture causes ice to melt whereas removing heat causes water to freeze. For that reason, 0 (zero) degree Celsius is called the freezing point of fresh water. Cloud droplets can cool well below the usual freezing point while remaining liquid. Such cloud droplets are composed of super cooled water.