Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon – November 2

Why are all satellites and missiles launched from the east coast?

Before we discover the reason, let us know about the Earth’s rotation. When seen from the North Pole, the Earth rotates anti-clock wise. It means in general term, from west to east as we see the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

The surface velocity of rotation varies from point to point on the Earth. It is about 1600 km per hour or about 460 meters in a second near the equator.

The velocity gradually reduces as we move to the poles and it is practically zero there. A satellite launched from the sites near the equator towards the east direction will get an initial boost equal to the velocity of Earth surface. This is similar to an athlete circling round and round before throwing a discus or a shot put.The initial boost helps in cutting down the cost of rockets used to launch the satellites.This is the major reason for launching satellites in the east ward direction.

Another characteristic of launching satellites is that the launching stations are generally located near eastern coast line so that, just in case of failure of the launch, the satellite does not fall on built-up hinterland.

Types of mirrors

Concave mirror:The reflecting surface is towards centre of sphere while outer surface is polished.

Applications:

a. These mirrors are used in opthalmoscope, which reflects light from retina of the eye of the patient.

b. These are used in search lights

c. These are used in mirrors that are used in saloons.

Convex mirror: The reflecting surface is away from the centre of the sphere.

Applications:

a. Driver’s mirror uses this type of mirror. But the exact distance of the vehicles are not known.

b. Used in safety viewers at dangerous corners.

Nano Science is a field of science which is concerned with study of atoms, molecules and objects whose size is on Nano meter scale.

Materials behave differently at nano meter scale than when compared to when they behave at the normal scale.  For ex: Gold at macro scale is chemically inert but at nanoscale, it behaves as a catalyst.

The reason for this is the change in the fundamental property of matter due to the increased ratio of surface area to volume which leads to altering the physical, thermal and catalytic properties of matter.

All are correctly matched.

Types of Biotechnology

1. Green Biotechnology- It is the field of where Biotech principles are used in agricultural purposes.
2. Red Biotechnology- It is the field of where Biotech principles are used in medical purposes.
3. White Biotechnology- It is the field of where Biotech principles are used in industrial purposes.
4. Blue Biotechnology- It is the field of where Biotech principles are used in marine or fresh water areas.

EM Spectrum

The waves can be arranged in terms of highest frequency or highest wavelength. From highest frequency to lowest frequency, the EM waves are

• Gamma rays – also known as Gamma Radiation. It is the EM radiation with the highest frequency. . Gamma rays have frequencies higher than 10 exahertz (>1019). Gamma rays are known to kill cells. They are increasingly used to kill cancerous cells.
• X Rays – X-rays were discovered by William Roentgen. He produced these rays by bombarding electron to an element having high atomic number say Tungsten or Copper. X-rays can carry enough energy to ionize atoms and disrupt molecular bonds
• Ultraviolet Rays – It is part of EM spectrum where the wavelength is greater than X-rays. This portion of the spectrum is so named to represent that portion of the spectrum that has frequencies higher than those the Humans identify as the colour violet
• Infrared – This includes most of the thermal radiation emitted by objects near room temperature. These are known as heat waves. Much of the energy from the sun arrives on Earth in the form of Infrared radiation. Infrared waves help in maintaining earth’s warmth or average temperature through the greenhouse effect

Some of the major difference between chromosomal and mendelian disorders are as follows:

Chromosomal Disorders:

1. The disorders are caused by chromosomal abnormalities.
2. Chromosomal abnormalities develop due to defective synapsis and disjunction.
3. The defect can be known through amniocentesis.
4. The disorder is rarely transmitted.

Mendelian Disorders:

1. The disorders are caused by allelic abnormalities.
2. Allelic abnormalities develop due to mutations.
3. The defect can be predicted through pedigree analysis.
4. The disorder is transmitted to the progeny.