Physics: Mechanics: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Science and Technology)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Physics: Mechanics (Science and Technology). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 1999Science and Technology · Physics: Mechanics
Q1. A hunter aims his gun at a point between the eyebrows of a monkey sitting on a branch of a tree. Just as he fires, the monkey jumps down. The bullet will:
Explanation
Both the bullet and the monkey experience the same downward acceleration due to gravity provided the air resistance is negligible. When the hunter fires the bullet, the bullet starts moving along a curved trajectory due to the combined effects of its horizontal velocity and the vertical acceleration caused by gravity. When the monkey jumps, it also begins to fall freely under gravity with an initial vertical velocity of zero. Since the hunter aims directly at the monkey at the moment of firing, the bullet and the monkey will both fall the same vertical distance due to gravity at the same time. Therefore, the bullet will hit the monkey at the point aimed.
UPSC 1999Science and Technology · Physics: Mechanics
Q2. For which one of the following is capillarity not the reason?
Explanation
Capillarity, also known as capillary action, is the ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of, or even in opposition to, external forces like gravity. Capillarity is crucial in various natural and artificial processes, where the balance of forces drives the liquid into confined spaces.
Option (a) is correct: The tiny pores in the blotting paper act as capillaries and draw the ink through them.
Option (b) is incorrect: This is primarily due to hydrostatic pressure and not capillary action. Water moves through soil and rock layers due to pressure gradients rather than the effects of surface tension.
Option (c) is correct: This is due to capillarity. The fine fibers in the cloth act as capillaries, drawing water into them.
Option (d) is correct: Capillary action, along with transpiration pull and root pressure, helps move water through the tiny xylem vessels in plants.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
1999
(a) hit the monkey at the point aimed
2
1999
(b) Rising of underground water
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Physics: Mechanics?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Physics: Mechanics (Science and Technology), asked from 1997 to 2004. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Physics: Mechanics?
Questions on Physics: Mechanics (Science and Technology) are available for 7 years, from 1997 to 2004. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
