Science and Technology MCQ Set 37
Showing question 181 to 185 of total 301 MCQs
MCQ Set: 37
Solve the question on your notebook and check it by clicking (Answer and Explanation) below question.
Question No: 182
NASA has built its first mission to work as a planetary defence mechanism against cosmic impacts called DART. What does it stand for?
- Double Asteroid Reducing Test
- Double Asteroid Reduction Test
- Double Asteroid Redirection Test
- Double Asteroid Redirecting Test
Answer and Explanation
Answer: C
Explanation
NASA is developing the first-ever mission that will work as a planetary defence mechanism against potential cosmic body impacts in the future.
The mission, The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), is being designed, built and managed by the John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
The mission has moved from concept development to preliminary design phase, following NASA’s approval on 23 June 2017.
It is the first-ever design that will have the capability of deflecting a near-Earth asteroid.
It would demonstrate the kinetic impactor technique by knocking the hazardous object into a different flight path that would not threaten the planetary defence.
The approval by NASA advances the project towards a historic test with a non-threatening small asteroid.
The target for DART would be an asteroid that will have a distant approach to Earth in October 2022 and then again in 2024.
The asteroid called Didymos (Greek for twin) consists of two bodies: Didymos A, which is about 780 metres in size, and Didymos B, which is a smaller asteroid about 160 metres in size.
DART would impact only smaller of the two bodies, Didymos B, the composition of which is unknown.
The size is typical of asteroids that could potentially create regional effects should they impact Earth.
After launch, DART would fly to Didymos and use an APL- developed onboard autonomous targeting system to aim itself at Didymos B.
The spacecraft is expected to strike the smaller body at a speed that would be about nine times faster than a bullet, around six kilometres per second.
Earth-based observatories would be able to see the impact and the resulting change in the orbit of Didymos B around Didymos A, allowing scientists to better determine the capabilities of the kinetic impact as an asteroid mitigation strategy.
The kinetic impact technique works by changing the speed of a threatening asteroid by a small fraction of its total velocity.
By doing it well before the predicted impact, the small nudge will add up over time to a big shift of the asteroid’s path away from Earth.
DART is a critical step in demonstrating we can protect our planet from a future asteroid impact. As we don’t know that much about their internal structure or composition, this experiment needs to be performed on a real asteroid.
Question No: 183
What does MERIT stand for in the context of energy ministry apps?
- Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency
- Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Reinstigation of Income and Transparency
- Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Revitalization of Income and Transparency
- Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenating of Income and Transparency
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
Union Minister of State for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines, Piyush Goyal has launched the ‘MERIT app (Merit Order Despatch of Electricity for Rejuvenation of Income and Transparency)’.
Also launched was the e-bidding portal for offering an e-Bidding solution to States.
The app and the portal would help the states to select Independent Power Producers (IPPs) for procurement of power by transferring their domestic coal under the scheme of flexibility in utilisation of domestic coal.
The launch of the app and the portal is aimed at promoting the vision of ‘Minimum Government and Maximum Governance’ through ‘Speed, Skill and Scale’.
It would result in optimum utilisation of Coal and would save the consumer around INR 20,000 crores in the next five years.
It would increase the transparency and accountability.
The advantages of MERIT app
Empowers the consumer.
Promotes participative governance.
Transparency in information dissemination relating to marginal variable cost and source wise purchase of electricity.
Promotes economy and efficiency in operation.
Optimises the procurement costs. Facilitates renewable integration and handling of the variability and uncertainty of renewables.
Union cabinet in May 2016 permitted flexibility in utilisation of domestic coal amongst power generating stations.
Following which the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has issued the methodology for utilisation of domestic coal within State/Central generating stations on 8th June 2016.
The ministry of power then came up with the methodology for use of transferred coal in Independent Power Producers (IPPs) generating stations in February 2017.
Question No: 184
North Korea has fired its first ICBM named _____ into waters near Sea of Japan in July 2017.
- Hwasong-12
- Hawsong-13
- Hawsong-14
- Hwasong-14
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation
North Korea has claimed that it has successfully test-fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-14 into waters near Sea of Japan.
The claim was confirmed by United States.
The launch appeared to be North Korea’s most successful missile test since its ballistic missile programme gathered pace in the late 1990s.
The successful test also marks North Korea’s the final step in becoming confident and powerful nuclear state that can strike anywhere on Earth.
Based on missile’s height and trajectory path, US scientists claim that missile could potentially be powerful enough to reach Alaska.
The missile had reached an altitude higher and flew longer than any of the North Korea’s previous similar tests.
The missile had landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
The ICBM testing represents a new escalation of the threat to US and its allies and partners, the region and the world.
ICBM: Know More
An ICBM is a missile launched by a land-based system that is intended to carry nuclear payloads.
To qualify as an ICBM, a missile must have a minimum range of 5,500km.
The most significant difference between an ICBM and other ballistic missiles is its greater range and speed.
It enables countries to strike exceptionally distant targets with minimum warning.
Question No: 185
What is QR-SAM?
- Missile
- Air gun
- Tank
- Ship
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed quick reaction surface-to-air short range missile (QR-SAM).
The sophisticated missile was test fired from a truck-mounted canister launcher from launch complex-3 at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.
It was the second successful developmental trial of the state-of-the-art missile with an aerial target.
The first test launch of the missile was conducted in June 2017 from the same base.
Features of the missile
The QR-SAM has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and other establishments.
It has been designed to be a quick reaction missile.
It is an all-weather weapon system capable of tracking and firing.
The missile has a strike range of 25 to 30 km.
It can engage multiple targets.
Question No: 181
What is the student scientist programme launched by CSIR on July 6, 2017 called?
- Jigyasa
- Roshni
- Kiran
- Jyoti
Answer and Explanation
Answer: A
Explanation
Jigyasa, a student- scientist connect programme was officially launched in the national capital.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has joined hands with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to implement this programme.
The focus is on connecting school students and scientists so as to extend student’s classroom learning with that of a very well planned research laboratory based learning.
Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a new India and “Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR)” of scientific community and institutions, Jigyayasa was launched on the day which also coincides with the birthday of Shri Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
Mukherjee who is an inspirational figure and a role model for all Indians.
CSIR has been contributing for several decades for socio-economic development in the country.
It has been through development and deployment of knowledge base focused at Technology and Innovation. CSIR has also been playing a key role in human resource development, in particular training of the young researchers through Ph. D. programmes in diverse fields.
The “JIGYASA” would inculcate the culture of inquisitiveness on one hand and scientific temper on the other, amongst the school students and their teachers.
The Programme is expected to connect 1151 Kendriya Vidyalayas with 38 National Laboratories of CSIR targeting 100,000 students and nearly 1000 teachers annually.
The program will also enable the students and teachers to practically live the theoretical concepts taught in science by visiting CSIR laboratories and by participating in mini-science projects.
Jigyasa Components
Student Residential Programmes;
Scientists as Teachers and Teachers as Scientists;
Lab specific activities / Onsite Experiments;
Visits of Scientists to Schools/Outreach Programmes;
Science and Maths Clubs;
Popular Lecture Series/ demonstration programme at Schools;
Student Apprenticeship Programmes;
Science Exhibitions;
Projects of National Children’s Science Congress;
Teacher Workshops; and
Tinkering Laboratories
“JIGYASA” is a major initiative taken up by CSIR at national level, during its Platinum Jubilee Celebration Year.
CSIR is widening and deepening its Scientific Social Responsibility further with the programme.