Indian Studies on Cometary Nuclei and Their Activity

Description: This quiz focuses on Indian studies related to cometary nuclei and their activity.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: indian astronomy comets cometary nuclei activity
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What is the primary composition of cometary nuclei?

  1. Ice and dust

  2. Rock and metal

  3. Gas and plasma

  4. Organic molecules


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Cometary nuclei are primarily composed of ice and dust, with a mixture of various organic molecules and minerals.

Which Indian astronomer made significant contributions to the study of cometary nuclei?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Varāhamihira

  4. C. V. Raman


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

C. V. Raman, an Indian physicist, conducted pioneering research on the spectra of comets, providing insights into the composition and structure of cometary nuclei.

What is the term used to describe the process by which cometary nuclei release gas and dust?

  1. Sublimation

  2. Condensation

  3. Accretion

  4. Vaporization


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Sublimation is the process by which cometary nuclei release gas and dust as they approach the Sun and are heated by its radiation.

What is the name of the spacecraft mission that successfully landed on a cometary nucleus?

  1. Rosetta

  2. Voyager 1

  3. New Horizons

  4. Cassini-Huygens


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Rosetta mission, a joint project between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, successfully landed a probe named Philae on the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014.

What is the typical size range of cometary nuclei?

  1. 1-10 kilometers

  2. 10-100 kilometers

  3. 100-1000 kilometers

  4. More than 1000 kilometers


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Cometary nuclei typically range in size from 1 to 10 kilometers in diameter, although some larger nuclei have been observed.

What is the term used to describe the bright, glowing envelope that surrounds a cometary nucleus?

  1. Coma

  2. Tail

  3. Nucleus

  4. Corona


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The coma is the bright, glowing envelope that surrounds a cometary nucleus and is formed by the sublimation of gases and dust from the nucleus.

What is the primary mechanism responsible for the formation of cometary tails?

  1. Solar radiation pressure

  2. Gravitational pull of the Sun

  3. Magnetic fields

  4. Collisions with other comets


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Solar radiation pressure is the primary mechanism responsible for the formation of cometary tails, as it pushes the dust and gas particles away from the nucleus in a direction opposite to the Sun.

Which Indian institution has been actively involved in the study of cometary nuclei and their activity?

  1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA)

  2. National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA)

  3. Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)

  4. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) has been actively involved in the study of cometary nuclei and their activity, conducting observations and research using various telescopes and instruments.

What is the term used to describe the process by which cometary nuclei split into multiple fragments?

  1. Fragmentation

  2. Accretion

  3. Sublimation

  4. Condensation


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Fragmentation is the process by which cometary nuclei split into multiple fragments, often due to various factors such as tidal forces, collisions, or internal stresses.

Which comet was the target of the Indian Deep Space Mission (IDSM)?

  1. 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

  2. 9P/Tempel 1

  3. 103P/Hartley 2

  4. 46P/Wirtanen


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Indian Deep Space Mission (IDSM) aimed to study a cometary nucleus and was planned to rendezvous with comet 103P/Hartley 2, although the mission was eventually canceled.

What is the name of the instrument onboard the Rosetta spacecraft that analyzed the composition of cometary dust particles?

  1. COSIMA

  2. VIRTIS

  3. OSIRIS

  4. GIADA


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

COSIMA (Cometary Secondary Ion Mass Analyzer) was an instrument onboard the Rosetta spacecraft that analyzed the composition of cometary dust particles by measuring their mass and chemical composition.

Which Indian scientist was involved in the analysis of data from the COSIMA instrument on the Rosetta mission?

  1. J. N. Goswami

  2. R. S. Yadav

  3. S. S. Bisht

  4. A. K. Singh


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

J. N. Goswami, an Indian scientist, was involved in the analysis of data from the COSIMA instrument on the Rosetta mission, contributing to the study of cometary dust composition.

What is the term used to describe the process by which cometary nuclei rotate?

  1. Rotation

  2. Revolution

  3. Precession

  4. Nutation


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Rotation is the process by which cometary nuclei spin around their own axis, resulting in the variation of their surface features and activity patterns.

Which Indian observatory has been used for observations of cometary nuclei and their activity?

  1. Vainu Bappu Observatory

  2. Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)

  3. Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT)

  4. Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES)


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Vainu Bappu Observatory in Kavalur, India, has been used for observations of cometary nuclei and their activity, particularly in the optical and infrared wavelengths.

What is the name of the Indian spacecraft that was planned to study a cometary nucleus but was eventually canceled?

  1. Mangalyaan

  2. Chandrayaan-1

  3. Aditya-L1

  4. Indian Deep Space Mission (IDSM)


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Indian Deep Space Mission (IDSM) was a planned Indian spacecraft mission that aimed to study a cometary nucleus, but it was eventually canceled due to various factors.

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