General

Science
UPSC IAS, State PSCs, SSC, CDS, NDA, CPO, CISF,
Assistant Commandant, SCRA, Railway, B.Ed,
& for other Competitive Examinations
General
Science
UPSC IAS, State PSCs, SSC, CDS, NDA, CPO, CISF,
Assistant Commandant, SCRA, Railway, B.Ed,
& for other Competitive Examinations

Shailesh Shukla, Ankita Dixit (Biology)

Jyant Kumar Jha (Physics)
Avantika Trivedi (Chemistry)
Shweta Rani (Computer)

ARIHANT PUBLICATIONS (INDIA) LTD.

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 PREFACE
Analysing the recent pattern of competitive exams like SSC, CDS, NDA, Assistant
Commandant, CPO, UPSC & State Level PSCs, etc it is evident that General Science
has taken an important dimension. General Science has always been a problematic
section for aspirants. They find it difficult to prepare for this section because it has no
prescribed syllabus and coverage area. Moreover, there are also a good number of
students preparing for general competitions who are not from science background. As
a result, they find it even more difficult.
Hence, the need arises for a book that can provide the complete contents of General
Science in an organised and easy to comprehend manner which can be studied by all
the students including the students from the non-science background too.
Consequently, it will make them ready to face the questions on General Science.
Considering this, the book Objective Question Bank in General Science has been
prepared keeping the importance of the subject in mind. It covers all the sections of
General Science like Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Computer Awareness, etc.
In this book, we have tried to simplify the complexities of some of the topics so that the
non-science students feel no difficulty while studying General Science.

Special Features
— Selective Collection of more than 5000 Highly Useful Questions.
— With Previous Years' Examination Questions up to 2014.
— Inclusion of One Liner Facts as extra Knowledge Booster.
— To Facilitate Step-Wise Learning, Division of Questions is done as per Preliminary
and Advanced Level in each chapter.
— More than 100 Tables are amalgamated in between the chapters to summarise
important information.
— With Hints and Explanations of difficult questions.

Although, we have put our best efforts in preparing this book, if any error or
whatsoever has been skipped out, we will try to rectify those in coming editions.

Authors
 CONTENTS
PHYSICS
1. Measurement and Errors 1-6
2. Motion 7-14
3. Force and Laws of Motion 15-23
4. Gravitation 24-30
5. Work, Energy and Power 31-37
6. Rotational Motion and Centre of Mass 38-41
7. Mechanical Properties of Matter 42-53
8. Simple Harmonic Motion 54-58
9. Temperature, Heat and Thermodynamics 59-68
10. Wave Motion 69-80
11. Light- Ray Optics 81-93
12. Electric Charge: Electric Field and Electric Potential 94-97
13. Current Electricity and Its Effects 98-106
14. Magnetic Effects of Current, Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction 107-113
15. Nuclear Physics 114-119
16. Semiconductor 120-125
17. Communication 126-130

CHEMISTRY
1. Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry 131-136
2. Atomic Structure 137-145
3. Chemical Reactions 146-152
4. Chemical Bonding 153-158
5. Acids, Bases and Salts 159-165
 6. Solutions and Colloids 166-171
7. Energetics and Kinetics 172-178
8. Electrochemistry 179-184
9. Periodic Classification of Elements 185-190
10. Metallurgy 191-197
11. Hydrogen and Its Compounds 198-203
12. Metals and Their Compounds 204-214
13. Non-Metals and Their Compounds 215-224
14. Flame and Fuel 225-230
15. Organic Compounds 231-243
16. Food Chemistry 244-250
17. Chemistry in Everyday Life 251-262

BIOLOGY
1. Biology and Its Branches 263-267
2. Diversity in Living Organisms 268-285
3. Cell : Structure and Functions 286-293
4. Cell Cycle and Cell Division 294-298
5. Plant Tissues 299-305
6. Animal Tissues 306-312
7. Plant Nutrition 313-319
8. Animal Nutrition 320-325
9. Plant System 326-333
10. Reproduction in Organisms 334-338
11. Digestive System in Humans 339-344
12. Respiratory System 345-349
13. Circulatory System 350-354
14. Excretory System 355-359
15. Skeletal System in Humans 360-364
16. Control and Coordination 365-370
17. Reproductive System 371-375
18. Genetics 376-382
19. Heredity and Evolution 383-389
20. Human Health and Diseases 390-398
21. Biotechnology 399-405
22. Environment and Its Issues 406-413
23. Ecology and Ecosystem 414-422
24. Agriculture Science 423-428
25. Animal Husbandry 429-433
26. Economic Zoology 434-437
27. Economic Botany 438-441

COMPUTER AWARENESS
1. Introduction to Computer 442-446
2. Computer Organisation and Memory 447-452
3. Data Representation 453-457
4. Software 458-462
5. Data Communication Networking 463-467
6. Internet and Computer Security 468-473

Practice Test 1 477-479

Practice Test 2 480-482
Practice Test 3 483-486
Practice Test 4 487-490
Practice Test 5 491-496
Physics

1
Measurement
and Errors
ONE LINE APPROACH
n Can there be a physical quantity which has no units and no n Name the physical quantity which is measured in the unit ‘ly’.
dimensions? Yes, e.g., Strain Distance
n
Name a scalar and a vector quantity which have same dimension. n
What are the two complementary fundamental quantities?
Speed and velocity Angle, Solid angle
n
Are all constants dimensionless? n
What is the SI unit of solid angle? Steradian
No, e.g., Gravitational constant n
How is a light year related to metre? 1 ly = 9.46 × 1015 m
n
Can a quantity have dimensions, but still have no units? No n
How is a parsec related to metre? 1 parsec = 3.08 × 1016 m
n
Can a quantity have units, but still be dimensionless? n
What is the mass of the Sun (solar mass)? 2 × 1030 kg
Yes, e.g., Angle
n
How many weeks are there in a lunar month? 4
n
Does the magnitude of a quantity depend on system of units used?
5
Yes, e.g., 1N = 10 dyne
n
Give the SI unit of luminous intensity and amount of
substance. Candela (cd) and mole (mol)
n
Does a quantity have different dimension in different system of
units? No n
State the number of significant figures in 2.64 × 1024 kg. 3
n
What are the dimensions of mass per unit length? n
State the number of significant figures in 0.0006032. 4
Mass/length = [ ML− 1 ] n
How would the error affected, if a research worker takes
n
What type of quantity is Avogadro’s number? 100 observations in an experiment and then repeats the
Dimensionless constant same experiment by taking 500 observations?
Error reduces to   th
n
Do all physical quantities have dimensions? No 1
 5
n
Name three physical quantities which have same dimensions.
Work, Energy, Torque n
Which principle is used to check the accuracy of formulae?
n
Name the physical quantity which is measured in the unit ‘u’. Mass Principle of homogeneity
 Multiple Choice Questions
Preliminary Level
1. A physical quantity is one which 8. Which of the following is not the unit of time?
a. cannot be measured b. can be measured a. Parallactic second b. Micro second
c. is a scalar quantity d. is a vector quantity c. Leap year d. Solar day
2. Fundamental physical quantities
Different Units of Time
a. depend on the other physical quantities
b. do not depend on the other physical quantities 1 min = 60 s
c. are derived from other physical quantities
1 h = 60 min = 3600 s
d. are the simple ratio of their physical quantities
1 day = 24 h
3. If a physical quantity is expressed in terms of two or
more fundamental units, then this unit is called 1 week = 7 days
a. fundamental b. scalar 1 lunar month = 28 days = 4 weeks
c. vector d. derived
1 solar month = 30 or 31 days
4. The physical quantities which has magnitude only and = 28 or 29 days (Feb)
whose direction is not considered is called
1 year = 13 lunar month 1 day
a. vector b. scalar
c. fundamental d. derived = 12 solar month = 365 days
1 leap year = 366 days
5. Which of the following is not a vector quantity?
a. Speed b. Velocity
c. Torque d. Displacement 9. Bar is a unit of which one of the following? CDS 2010
a. Force b. Energy
6. Kelvin is the unit of c. Pressure d. Frequency
a. length b. temperature
c. time d. mass
Some Important Physical Quantities with
Fundamental Units their Units
Physical Quantities SI Units Symbols Physical Quantities SI Units
Length Metre m
Force Newton (N)
Mass Kilogram kg
Pressure Pascal (Pa) or Bar
Time Second s
Work/Energy Joule (J)
Electric current Ampere A
Power Watt (W)
Temperature Kelvin K
Angle Radian (Rad)
Luminous intensity Candela cd
Amount of substance Mole mol Frequency Hertz (Hz)
Charge Coulomb (C)
7. Masses of the Stars and the Galaxies are usually Inductance Henry (H)
expressed in terms of Magnetic flux Weber (Wb)
a. neutron mass b. the Earth’s mass
c. solar mass d. lunar mass Magnetic induction Tesla (T)
Resistance Ohm ( Ω )
Different Units of Mass
Capacitance Farad (F)
1 ounce-oz = 28.35 g
1 pound-lb = 16 oz = 453.59 g Luminous flux Lumen (Lm)
1 kg = 2.205 lb = 1000 g Illuminance Lux or phot
1 quintal = 100 kg Power of lens Dioptre (D)
1 metric ton = 1000 kg
KEY Zone
1. b 2. b 3. d 4. b 5. a 6. b 7. c 8. a 9. c
 Objective Question Bank in General Science | 3
Measurement and Errors

10. Which one of the following pairs of physical quantities Different Units of Length or Distance
may be represented in the same unit? 1 km = 1000 m, 1 mile = 1.60934 km
a. Temperature and mole b. Heat and work
c. Heat and temperature d. Specific heat and heat 1 NM (nautical mile) = 1.852 km
1 AU = 1.495 × 1011 m
11. Kilowatt-hour is the unit of NDA 2011
a. potential difference b. electric power 1 ly = 9.46 × 1015 m
c. electric energy d. electric potential = 63278 AU
12. The SI unit of electric charge is SSC 2010 1 parsec = 3.08 × 1016 m = 3.26 ly
a. ampere b. coulomb
c. ESU d. kelvin
18. How many cubic centimetres (cm 3 ) are in a cubic
13. Which one of the following is the unit of activity of a metre (m 3 )? NDA (NA) 2014
radioactive source? a. 10 3 b. 106
a. Lux b. Becquerel c. 10 9 d. 1012
c. Tesla d. Siemens
19. A micron is equal to SSC 2012
14. What is the SI unit of Young’s modulus of elasticity? a. 0.1 mm b. 0.01 mm
a. Dyne-cm b. N/m c. 0.001 mm d. 0.0001 mm
c. N/m 2 d. m 2 /s

15. Which of the following physical quantity has no unit? Various Exponents of 10
a. Efficiency b. Flux
c. Power d. Tension Exponents Prefixes Symbols
of 10
24
10 Yotta Y
Table for Unitless or Dimensionless
21
Physical Quantities 10 Zetta Z
18
Specific gravity Ratio of density 10 Exa E
15
Strain 10 Peta P
Relative change in length
 ∆l 
12
10 Tera T
 
 l 
10 9 Giga G
Refractive index Ratio of trigonometric ratios 10 6 Mega M
Trigonometric ratio Ratio of sides of right angle 10 3
Kilo k
triangle
2
10 Hecto h
Efficiency Ratio of work done by heat
supplied 1
10 Deca da
Dielectric constant Ratio relative to the 10 −1 Deci d
/Relative permittivity permittivity of vacuum −2
10 Centi c
Magnification Ratio of height of image with
−3
the height of object 10 Milli m
−6
10 Micro µ
−9
16. The value of one light year is 10 Nano n
a. 9.46 × 10 −15 m b. 9.46 × 1015 m 10 −12 Pico p
c. 9.46 × 10 −13 m d. 9.46 × 1013 m 10 −15
Femto/Fermi f
−18
17. One astronomical unit is the average distance 10 Atto a
between 10 −21
Zepto z
a. the Earth and the Sun b. the Earth and the Moon −24
10 Yocto y
c. the Jupiter and the Sun d. the Pluto and the Sun

KEY Zone
10. b 11. c 12. b 13. b 14. c 15. a 16. b 17. a 18. b 19. c
 Objective Question Bank in General Science | 4
Physics

20. A… of a physical quantity are the powers (or Dimensional Formula for Fundamental
exponents) to which the units of base quantities are Physical Quantities
raised to represent a derived unit of that quantity. Physical Quantities Dimensions
a. unit Length [L]
b. measurement Mass [M]
c. dimension
Time [T]
d. error
Electric current [A]
21. The dimensions [MLT – 2 ] correspond to SSC 2013 Temperature [K]
a. force Luminous intensity [cd]
b. work done
Amount of substance [mol]
c. acceleration
d. velocity Angle Dimensionless

22. Which of the following physical quantities have the 25. The difference in the true value and the measured
same dimensions? value of a quantity is
a. Momentum and impulse a. dimension b. approximation
b. Power and Young’s modulus c. error d. None of these
c. Energy and angular momentum
d. Force constant and moment of inertia 26. Q of a measurement is a measure of how close the
measured value is to the true value of the quantity.
23. Which of the following pairs of physical quantities Here Q refer to
does not have same dimensional formula? a. accuracy b. error
a. Work and torque NCERT Exemplar c. approximation d. none of these
b. Angular momentum and Planck’s constant
c. Tension and surface tension
27. P of an instrument is the smallest value that can
be measured by a measuring instrument. Here P
d. Impulse and linear momentum
refers to
24. Which of the following physical quantity has no a. approximation b. error
dimension? c. least count d. None of these
a. Power
28. The number of significant figures in 0.06900 is
b. Mass
c. Angle NCERT Exemplar
a. 5 b. 4 c. 2 d. 3
d. Temperature

KEY Zone
20. c 21. a 22. a 23. c 24. c 25. c 26. a 27. c 28. b

Advance Level
1. Consider the following statements 2. Match List I (Quantities) with List II (Units) and select the
I. The magnitude of vector is always a scalar. correct answer using the codes given below the lists.
II. The total path length is always equal to the magnitude List I List II
of the displacement vector of a particle. A. High speed 1. Mach 5
III. The average speed of a particle is either greater or
B. Wavelength 2. Angstrom
equal to the magnitude of the average velocity of the
particle over the same interval of time. C. Pressure 3. Pascal
IV. Three vectors not lying in a plane can never added up to D. Energy 4. Joule
give a null vector. Codes
Which of the statement(s) above is/are correct? A B C D A B C D
a. I, II and IV b. I, III and IV a. 2 1 4 3 b. 2 1 3 4
c. II, III and III d. I, II, III, and IV c. 1 2 4 3 d. 1 2 3 4
KEY Zone
1. b 2. d
 Objective Question Bank in General Science | 5
Measurement and Errors

3. Momentum of a body is 6. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer
I. a vector quantity. from the codes given below.
II. a conserved quantity in an isolated system.
List I List II
III. same as force in linear motion.
A. Acceleration 1. Joule
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
a. I and III b. II and III NDA 2011 B. Force 2. Newton second
c. I and II d. I, II and III C. Work done 3. Newton
4. Consider the following statements and choose the D. Impulse 4. Metre per second 2
correct option
I. Both distance and displacement are scalar quantity. Codes
A B C D A B C D
II. CGS, FPS and MKS, all are systems of unit.
a. 1 2 3 4 b. 2 3 4 1
III. Physical quantities, which are ratio of two same c. 4 3 1 2 d. 3 4 1 2
physical quantities have no dimension.
a. I, II, III are true 7. Which one of the following pairs does not have the
b. I and II are true same dimension? NDA 2010
c. II and III are true
a. Potential energy and kinetic energy
d. I and III are true
b. Density and specific gravity
5. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer c. Focal length and height
using the codes given below. d. Gravitational force and frictional force

List I List II 8. If the density of water is 1 g cm −3 in CGS system. Its

A. Joule 1. Henry-ampere/sec value in MKS system is
a. 1 kg/m 3
B. Watt 2. Farad-volt
b. 10 3 kg/m 3
C. Volt 3. Coulomb-volt c. 10 −3 kg/m 3
D. Coulomb 4. Oersted-cm d. 10 −6 kg/m 3
5. Amp-gauss 9. Fahrenheit and Celsius are the two scales used for
6. Amp 2-ohm measuring temperature. If the numerical value of a
temperature recorded in both the scales is found to be
Codes
same, what is the temperature? NDA 2014
A B C D A B C D
a. –40° b. +40°
a. 1 6 5 4 b. 3 6 1 2
c. 3 6 1 5 d. 2 6 1 3 c. +72 ° d. –72°

KEY Zone
3. c 4. c 5. b 6. c 7. b 8. b 9. a
 Hints & Explanations
Preliminary Level 22. Momentum = Mass × Velocity = [M][LT–1]
7. The solar mass is a standard unit of mass in astronomy which = [MLT −1]
is used to indicate the masses of other Stars and the Galaxies. Impulse = Force × Time = [MLT–2 ][T]
It is equal to the mass of the Sun.
= [MLT −1]
M = (19885
. ± 0.00025 ) × 10 30 kg
8. Parallactic second (parsec) is the unit of distance i.e., largest 28. Significant figures is the number of digits which are known
unit of distance among all the astronomical units of distance reliably plus the first uncertain digit, i.e., 0 . 0 6 9 0 0 has
and 4 significant figures as marked. It is important to note that
1 parsec = 3.08 × 1016 m trailing zeroes in a number containing a decimal point are
significant.
12. The SI unit of an electric charge is the coulomb, which is
equivalent to about 6.242 × 1018 e– (e– is the charge of an
electron). Hence, the charge of an electron is approximately Advance Level
−1.602 × 10–19 C. The coulomb is defined as the quantity of
charge that has passed through the cross-section of an 3. Momentum ( p = mv ) is a vector quantity and is a conserved
electrical conductor carrying one ampere within one second. quantity in an isolated system, according to the law of
conservation of linear momentum and angular momentum.
16. One light year (1 ly) is the distance covered by the light in
vacuum in 1 yr. We know that light travels a distance of 3 × 10 8 7. Potential energy and kinetic energy = [ML2 T −2 ]
m in vacuum in 1 s. Density = [ML−3 ]
Therefore, Density of the body
Specific gravity or relative density =
1 ly = (3 × 10 8 ms −1) × (365 × 24 × 60 × 60 ) s = 9.46 × 1015 m Density of water

18. 1 m = 100 cm So, it has neither unit nor dimension.

1m 3 = (100 ) 3 cm 3 = 106 cm 3 Focal length and height = [L]
–6 Gravitational force and frictional force = [MLT −2 ]
19. 1 micron = 10 m
So, option b is correct.
Q 1m = 10 3 mm
9. Relation between Fahrenheit and Celsius scales is
∴ 10–6 m (or 1 micron) = 10 3 × 10–6 = 10–3 mm or 0.001 mm
C − 0 ° F − 32
21. The dimensions [MLT–2 ] correspond to force. Force is the =
100 180
product of mass of the body and its acceleration.