Universe - Practice Test 5

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Which planet rotates from North to South?

   • A.Earth
   • B.Uranus✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Saturn
   • D.Neptune

   Explanation: Uranus rolls on its side, so its rotation is effectively north-south relative to the orbital plane.

2. Q2.Which celestial body is known as the 'Queen of Night'?

   • A.Moon✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Venus
   • C.Sirius
   • D.Mars

   Explanation: The Moon is poetically referred to as the Queen of Night.

3. Q3.The time taken by the Moon to complete one revolution around Earth is:

   • A.24 hours
   • B.27.3 days✓ Correct Answer
   • C.29.5 days
   • D.365 days

   Explanation: The sidereal period of the Moon is 27.3 days.

4. Q4.Who was the first Indian to go into space?

   • A.Kalpana Chawla
   • B.Rakesh Sharma✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Sunita Williams
   • D.Vikram Sarabhai

   Explanation: Rakesh Sharma travelled to space in 1984 aboard a Soviet spacecraft.

5. Q5.The phenomenon of 'Diamond Ring' is visible during:

   • A.Total Solar Eclipse✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Partial Lunar Eclipse
   • C.Total Lunar Eclipse
   • D.Asteroid passing

   Explanation: The Diamond Ring effect is seen just before or after totality in a Solar Eclipse.

6. Q6.Which planet has the largest day (longest rotation period)?

   • A.Jupiter
   • B.Earth
   • C.Venus✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Mars

   Explanation: Venus has the longest rotation period of 243 Earth days.

7. Q7.The atmosphere of Mars is mostly composed of:

   • A.Oxygen
   • B.Carbon Dioxide✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Nitrogen
   • D.Hydrogen

   Explanation: Mars' atmosphere is thin and composed mostly (95%) of Carbon Dioxide.

8. Q8.Which planet is called the 'God of War'?

   • A.Jupiter
   • B.Mars✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Saturn
   • D.Pluto

   Explanation: Mars is named after the Roman god of war due to its red color.

9. Q9.What is a 'Nebula'?

   • A.A dead star
   • B.A giant cloud of dust and gas✓ Correct Answer
   • C.A planet
   • D.A black hole

   Explanation: A Nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space, often a nursery for new stars.

10. Q10.Which planet has a Great Dark Spot?

    • A.Jupiter
    • B.Neptune✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Uranus
    • D.Saturn

    Explanation: The Great Dark Spot was a storm observed on Neptune.

11. Q11.The largest moon of Neptune is:

    • A.Triton✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Titan
    • C.Charon
    • D.Oberon

    Explanation: Triton is the largest moon of Neptune and orbits retrograde.

12. Q12.Which star stage comes after 'Red Giant' for an average star like the Sun?

    • A.Supernova
    • B.Black Hole
    • C.White Dwarf✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Neutron Star

    Explanation: After the Red Giant phase, a medium star sheds its layers to become a White Dwarf.

13. Q13.The study of the origin of the Universe is:

    • A.Cosmogony✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Astrology
    • C.Seismology
    • D.Topology

    Explanation: Cosmogony specifically deals with the origin of the universe.

14. Q14.What is the speed of light in vacuum?

    • A.300,000 km/s✓ Correct Answer
    • B.150,000 km/s
    • C.3,000 km/s
    • D.1,080 km/h

    Explanation: Light travels at approximately 300,000 kilometers per second.

15. Q15.Which planet is nearest to Earth?

    • A.Mars
    • B.Venus✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Mercury
    • D.Jupiter

    Explanation: Venus comes closer to Earth than any other planet.

16. Q16.The 'Big Dipper' is a part of which constellation?

    • A.Ursa Minor
    • B.Ursa Major✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Orion
    • D.Scorpius

    Explanation: The Big Dipper is an asterism within the Ursa Major constellation.

17. Q17.Which planet has the strongest magnetic field?

    • A.Earth
    • B.Jupiter✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Saturn
    • D.Neptune

    Explanation: Jupiter has the strongest magnetic field in the solar system.

18. Q18.The 'Sea of Tranquility' is located on:

    • A.Earth
    • B.Mars
    • C.Moon✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Jupiter

    Explanation: The Sea of Tranquility is a dark plain on the Moon where Apollo 11 landed.

19. Q19.Which planet rotates the fastest (shortest day)?

    • A.Earth
    • B.Mars
    • C.Jupiter✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Saturn

    Explanation: Jupiter rotates once in just under 10 hours.

20. Q20.Which is the second largest planet in the solar system?

    • A.Uranus
    • B.Neptune
    • C.Saturn✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Earth

    Explanation: Saturn is the second largest planet after Jupiter.