2012 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I

Question 18: Science and Technology

A team of scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory including those from India created the heaviest anti-matter (anti-helium nucleus). What is/are the implication/implications of the creation of anti-matter?

  1. 1.It will make mineral prospecting and oil exploration easier and cheaper.
  2. 2.It will help probe the possibility of the existence of stars and galaxies made of anti-matter.
  3. 3.It will help understand the evolution of the universe.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

a1 only
b2 and 3 only
c3 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

In 2011 the STAR experiment at Brookhaven's Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, with Indian scientists in the team, detected the antimatter nucleus anti-helium-4. Studying antimatter helps probe whether stars and galaxies made of antimatter could exist, and sheds light on how the universe evolved and why matter dominates. It has no bearing on mineral prospecting or oil exploration.

  • 1. Mineral prospecting and oil exploration do not depend on antimatter creation.
  • 2. It helps probe whether stars and galaxies of antimatter could exist.
  • 3. Antimatter studies help explain how the universe evolved.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (d) go: each of them includes 1.

    What you needed to know: Mineral prospecting and oil exploration do not depend on antimatter creation.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: It helps probe whether stars and galaxies of antimatter could exist.

Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statement 3.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: antimatter creation does not make prospecting or oil exploration easier.
  • (b) Correct: antimatter helps probe antimatter galaxies and the evolution of the universe.
  • (c) Incomplete: it also helps probe the possible existence of antimatter stars and galaxies.
  • (d) Wrong: statement 1 has no connection to antimatter research.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.