MCQ on The Universe: Stars, Sun, Asteroids: In a nutshell

Q1. How do stars primarily produce energy?
a) Nuclear fusion
b) Nuclear fission
c) Chemical reactions
d) Gravitational collapse

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Correct Answer: a) Nuclear fusion
Explanation: Stars primarily produce energy through the process of nuclear fusion, where hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium, releasing tremendous amounts of energy in the form of light and heat.

Q2. What is the closest star to Earth?
a) Proxima Centauri
b) Sirius
c) Alpha Centauri
d) Betelgeuse

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Correct Answer: a) Proxima Centauri
Explanation: Proxima Centauri is the closest known star to Earth, located about 4.24 light-years away in the Alpha Centauri star system.

Q3. What is the source of energy for the Sun?
a) Nuclear fusion
b) Gravitational collapse
c) Chemical reactions
d) Magnetic fields

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Correct Answer: a) Nuclear fusion
Explanation: The Sun primarily generates energy through the process of nuclear fusion, where hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium, releasing energy in the form of light and heat.

Q4. Which of the following is a type of asteroid that orbits the Sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter?
a) Apollo
b) Amor
c) Atira
d) Ceres

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Correct Answer: d) Ceres
Explanation: Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and is classified as a dwarf planet.

Q5. What is the name of the phenomenon when a massive star collapses under its own gravity, leading to a powerful explosion?
a) Supernova
b) Nebula
c) Black hole
d) Pulsar

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Correct Answer: a) Supernova
Explanation: A supernova is the explosion of a massive star, resulting in a sudden increase in brightness followed by a gradual fading.

Q6. What is the main constituent of stars like the Sun?
a) Hydrogen
b) Helium
c) Oxygen
d) Carbon

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Correct Answer: a) Hydrogen
Explanation: Stars like the Sun primarily consist of hydrogen, which undergoes nuclear fusion to form helium, releasing energy in the process.

Q7. What is the term used to describe a small, rocky body that orbits the Sun and is smaller than a planet?
a) Comet
b) Meteoroid
c) Asteroid
d) Meteorite

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Correct Answer: c) Asteroid
Explanation: Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Q8. Which of the following is a type of star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and collapsed to a very small size?
a) Red giant
b) White dwarf
c) Neutron star
d) Protostar

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Correct Answer: b) White dwarf
Explanation: A white dwarf is a small, dense remnant of a low to medium-mass star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and collapsed under its own gravity.

Q9. What is the name of the region around a black hole from which no matter or radiation can escape?
a) Event horizon
b) Singularity
c) Accretion disk
d) Ergosphere

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Correct Answer: a) Event horizon
Explanation: The event horizon is the boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing can escape, not even light.

Q10. What is the term used to describe the process by which a star converts hydrogen into helium, releasing energy in the process?
a) Fusion
b) Fission
c) Sublimation
d) Condensation

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Correct Answer: a) Fusion
Explanation: Fusion is the process by which stars convert hydrogen into helium, releasing energy in the form of light and heat.

Q11. What is the name of the phenomenon where a comet’s tail points away from the Sun due to solar wind and radiation pressure?
a) Ionization
b) Polarization
c) Tail formation
d) Solar wind deflection

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Correct Answer: c) Tail formation
Explanation: The tail of a comet forms due to the interaction of solar wind and radiation pressure with the comet’s coma and dust particles, causing it to point away from the Sun.

Q12. Which of the following is the largest planet in our solar system?
a) Jupiter
b) Saturn
c) Uranus
d) Neptune

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Correct Answer: a) Jupiter
Explanation: Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, known for its massive size and prominent gas giant characteristics.

Q13. What is the name of the process by which stars like the Sun eventually exhaust their nuclear fuel and cease to shine?
a) Stellar collapse
b) Stellar fusion
c) Stellar death
d) Stellar evolution

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Correct Answer: d) Stellar evolution
Explanation: Stellar evolution is the process by which stars change over time, eventually leading to the end of their lives.

Q14. What is the name of the region of space where the gravitational pull of a black hole is so strong that not even light can escape?
a) Event horizon
b) Singularity
c) Ergosphere
d) Accretion disk

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Explanation: The event horizon is the boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing can escape, not even light, due to the immense gravitational pull.

Q15. What is the name of the process by which an asteroid or meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up due to friction?
a) Meteoroid
b) Meteorite
c) Meteor
d) Meteor shower

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Correct Answer: c) Meteor
Explanation: A meteor is the visible streak of light that occurs when a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up due to friction.

Q16. What is the term used to describe the remnant of a massive star after a supernova explosion?
a) Black hole
b) Neutron star
c) White dwarf
d) Pulsar

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Correct Answer: b) Neutron star
Explanation: A neutron star is the remnant of a massive star that has undergone a supernova explosion, consisting primarily of densely packed neutrons.

Q17. What is the name of the cloud of gas and dust from which a star is born?
a) Nebula
b) Supernova
c) Protostar
d) Pulsar

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Correct Answer: a) Nebula
Explanation: A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust in space, where stars are born through the process of gravitational collapse and subsequent fusion.

Q18. Which planet is known for its prominent rings made up of ice and dust particles?
a) Saturn
b) Jupiter
c) Uranus
d) Neptune

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Correct Answer: a) Saturn
Explanation: Saturn is known for its prominent ring system, composed of ice and dust particles orbiting the planet’s equator.

Q19. What is the name of the region in space beyond the orbit of Neptune where many comets originate?
a) Kuiper Belt
b) Oort Cloud
c) Asteroid Belt
d) Scattered Disk

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Correct Answer: b) Oort Cloud
Explanation: The Oort Cloud is a theoretical region in space beyond the orbit of Neptune, believed to be the source of long-period comets.

Q20. What is the name of the process by which a main-sequence star exhausts its nuclear fuel and evolves into a red giant?
a) Stellar collapse
b) Stellar fusion
c) Stellar death
d) Stellar evolution

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Correct Answer: d) Stellar evolution
Explanation: Stellar evolution is the process by which a main-sequence star exhausts its nuclear fuel and undergoes changes, eventually evolving into a red giant or other stellar remnants, depending on its mass. During this process, the star’s outer layers expand and cool, leading to the formation of a red giant.

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