UPSC Prelims 1998 · General Studies
Question 105: Science and Technology
Consider the following statements regarding asteroids: I. Asteroids are rocky debris of varying sizes orbiting the Sun. II. Most of the asteroids are small but some have diameter as large as 1000 km. III. The orbit of asteroids lies between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn. Of these statements:
AnswerThe answer is (c).
Asteroids are rocky bodies, left over from the formation of the solar system, that orbit the Sun. Most are small, but the largest, Ceres, is about 940 km across. They lie mainly in the belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, not between Jupiter and Saturn, so III is wrong. Ceres is now classed as a dwarf planet.
- I. Asteroids are rocky debris orbiting the Sun.
- II. Most are small, and the largest, Ceres, is about 940 km across.
- III. The main belt lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) III is wrong: the belt lies between Mars and Jupiter.
- (b) III is wrong, and it leaves out I.
- (c) Right: I and II are correct.
- (d) III is wrong, and it leaves out II.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1998, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.