Subtopic

Physics & Materials Science

Under theme: Science & Technology

29 PYQs. Learn elimination tricks first, then attempt the questions below.

Questions29
Active years12
Tricks15

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Every PYQ in this subtopic — exam mode with autosave, negative marking, and explanations after you submit.

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Elimination tricks

15 from PYQs

Common distractors and how to eliminate wrong options in this subtopic.

  • 1

    Always consider the practical applications and environmental implications of new technologies.

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    Always look for the underlying scientific principle (Statement II) that explains the technological applicatio…

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  • 1

    Avoid assuming waste materials are useless; UPSC often highlights 'waste-to-wealth' concepts.

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    Avoid confusing the movie's subject with other historical figures or fictional characters.

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    Avoid making assumptions about the scale or scope of scientific projects; verify specific claims like 'larges…

  • 1

    Avoid options that describe contributing factors to a thunderstorm but not the specific cause of thunder itse…

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    Avoid options that describe social, economic, or environmental contexts, as the terms are purely scientific.

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    Avoid selecting options that include irrelevant optical phenomena not directly involved in rainbow creation.

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    Be cautious of absolute terms like "only"; they frequently indicate an incorrect statement in UPSC questions.

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    Be wary of absolute statements like 'cannot be recycled'; they are often incorrect in UPSC questions.

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    Be wary of absolute terms like 'only' in statements; they often indicate an incorrect claim.

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    Be wary of statements that promise immediate, wide-ranging, or revolutionary practical applications unless th…

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    Carefully read the question to identify the 'not correct' statement, as UPSC often uses negative phrasing.

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    Consider the physical and chemical properties of steel slag (e.g., hardness, mineral content) to infer its po…

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    Distinguish between changes in form/state (physical) and changes in chemical composition (chemical).

PYQs in this subtopic

2013
6
2014
2
2015
1
2016
1
2017
1
2018
2
2020
2
2021
3
2022
2
2023
4
2024
2
2025
3
UPSC Prelims 2022 easy Science & Technology Open full page

Consider the following statements:

1. Other than those made by humans, nanoparticles do not exist in nature.
2. Nanoparticles of some metallic oxides are used in the manufacture of some cosmetics
3. Nanoparticles of some commercial products which enter the environment are unsafe for humans.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC Prelims 2021 medium Science & Technology Open full page

Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid because

UPSC Prelims 2021 medium Science & Technology Open full page

With reference to street lighting, how do sodium lamps differ from LED lamps?
1. Sodium lamps produce light in 360 degrees but it is not so in the case of LED lamps.
2. As street-lights, sodium lamps have longer life span than LED lamps.
3. The spectrum of visible light from sodium lamps is almost monochromatic while LED lamps offer significant colour advantages in street lighting.

Select the correct answer using the code given below

Practice all 29 PYQs in one test

58 min · −33% negative · explanations after submit

UPSC Prelims 2021 medium Science & Technology Open full page

In a pressure cooker, the temperature at which the food is cooked depends mainly upon which of the following?
1. Area of the hole in the lid.
2. Temperature of the flame
3. Weight of the lid

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

UPSC Prelims 2020 medium Science & Technology Open full page

“The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million kilometres long, with lasers shining between the craft”. The experiment in question refers to

UPSC Prelims 2020 medium Science & Technology Open full page

Steel slag can be the material for which of the following?

1. Construction of base road
2. Improvement of agricultural soil
3. Production of cement

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Practice all 29 PYQs in one test

58 min · −33% negative · explanations after submit

UPSC Prelims 2018 easy Science & Technology Open full page

Consider the following pairs :
|Terms sometimes seen in news|Context /Topic |
|-- |--|
|1. Belle II experiment | Artificial Intelligence|
|2. Blockchain technology|Digital/Cryptocurrency |
|3. CRISPR — Cas9 | Particle Physics |

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

UPSC Prelims 2018 hard Science & Technology Open full page

Consider the following phenomena :
1. Light is affected by gravity.
2. The Universe is constantly expanding.
3. Matter warps its surrounding space-time.

Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media?

UPSC Prelims 2017 easy Science & Technology Open full page

The terms ‘Event Horizon’, ‘Singularity’, `String Theory’ and ‘Standard Model’ are sometimes seen in the news in the context of

UPSC Prelims 2016 easy Science & Technology Open full page

A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of