1998 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 1998 · General Studies

Question 125: Science and Technology

One Astronomical Unit is the average distance between

aEarth and the Sun
bEarth and the Moon
cJupiter and the Sun
dPluto and the Sun

AnswerThe answer is (a).

One astronomical unit (AU) is the average distance between the Earth and the Sun, about 150 million km, and is used as a yardstick for distances in the solar system: Jupiter is about 5.2 AU from the Sun and Pluto about 40 AU on average. The Earth-Moon distance, about 384,000 km, is far smaller and is not an AU.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: the mean Earth-Sun distance.
  • (b) The Earth-Moon distance is about 384,000 km.
  • (c) Jupiter is about 5.2 AU from the Sun.
  • (d) Pluto is about 40 AU from the Sun on average.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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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.