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Science & technology

Prelims · Science & technology · 28 questions

Physics & chemistry in everyday life

Every UPSC Prelims question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

Physics & chemistry in everyday life questions per year: 2016: 0, 2017: 2, 2018: 1, 2019: 0, 2020: 1, 2021: 4, 2022: 0, 2023: 1, 2024: 1, 2025: 2, 2026: 1 Asked in 8 of 11 years · most in 2021 (4)

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UPSC syllabus: “General Science.” Sub-topics in the detailed syllabus →

निम्नलिखित परिघटनाओं पर विचार कीजिए :

  1. 1.प्रकाश, गुरुत्व द्वारा प्रभावित होता है ।
  2. 2.ब्रह्माण्ड लगातार फैल रहा है ।
  3. 3.पदार्थ अपने चारों ओर के दिक्काल को विकुंचित (वार्प) करता है ।

उपर्युक्त में से एल्बर्ट आइन्सटाइन के आपेक्षिकता के सामान्य सिद्धान्त का/के भविष्यकथन कौन-सा/से है/हैं, जिसकी/जिनकी प्रायः समाचार माध्यमों में विवेचना होती है ?

Read this question in English

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?

(a) 1 and 2 only · (b) 3 only · (c) 1 and 3 only · (d) 1, 2 and 3

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (d) 1, 2 और 3

All three follow from Einstein's General Theory of Relativity (1915-16). It treats gravity as the curving of space-time by matter, so matter warps space-time, and light, which follows that curved space, is bent by gravity. Applied to the whole universe, the same equations allow an expanding universe.

  • ✓ 1. A massive body such as the Sun curves space-time, so light passing it no longer travels in a straight line. This bending was tested during the solar eclipse of 29 May 1919.
  • ✓ 2. Einstein's theory suggested that the universe expands. Einstein himself doubted this and added a 'cosmological constant' to avoid it; Friedmann's solutions of the equations and Hubble's observations supported expansion.
  • ✓ 3. This is the core idea: mass and energy curve the space-time around them, and objects, including light, move along that curvature.

Remember · General Relativity: matter curves space-time, and that curvature is gravity. It bends light and allows an expanding universe.

Sources

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

The Syllabus X-Ray of this topic

1 of its 5 sub-topics is Core

1 Core · 1 High · 1 Steady · 2 Rare

  • Core #44Everyday physics: light, sound, heat & electricity · 7 questions
  • HighEveryday chemistry: materials & reactions · 5 questions

The X-Ray ranks all 928 sub-topics of the UPSC syllabus by what UPSC has asked since 2016. The 60 Prelims Core sub-topics are behind 51% of Prelims questions.

See the whole X-Ray →

The same topic in Mains