Daily Static MCQs Quiz for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, MPPSC. BPSC, RPSC & All State PSC Exams
Subject : Science and Technology (10 November 2023)
1. Consider the following statements:
1. Energy produced using various forms of ocean energy such as tidal, wave and ocean thermal energy conversion are considered as Non-Renewable Energy.
2. Osmotic energy is the energy produced from the movement of water across a membrane between a saltwater reservoir and freshwater reservoir.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (B)
Explanation: The government has declared ocean energy as Renewable Energy. Accordingly, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has clarified that energy produced using various forms of ocean energy such as tidal, wave, ocean thermal energy conversion etc. shall be considered as Renewable Energy and shall be eligible for meeting the non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO). Osmotic energy is a technique that produces energy from the movement of water across a membrane between a saltwater reservoir and freshwater reservoir. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
2. Consider the following statements regarding Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs):
1. These are devices that convert chemical energy to electrical energy by the oxidation of organic molecules by the action of microorganisms.
2. No moving electrons or cathode/anode are required in an MFC.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (A)
Explanation: A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bio-electrochemical device that harnesses the power of respiring microbes to convert organic substrates directly into electrical energy. At its core, the MFC is a fuel cell, which transforms chemical energy into electricity using oxidation reduction reactions. The key difference of course is in the name, microbial fuel cells rely on living biocatalysts to facilitate the movement of electrons throughout their systems instead of the traditional chemically catalyzed oxidation of a fuel at the anode and reduction at the cathode. A MFC consists of an anode and a cathode separated by a cation specific membrane. Microbes at the anode oxidize the organic fuel generating protons which pass through the membrane to the cathode, and electrons which pass through the anode to an external circuit to generate a current. The trick of course is collecting the electrons released by bacteria as they respire. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
3. Consider the following pairs:
1. Grey hydrogen: Hydrogen not produced from fossil fuels
2. Blue hydrogen: Hydrogen generated from fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage options.
3. Green hydrogen: Hydrogen generated entirely from renewable power sources
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (B)
Explanation: The sources and processes by which hydrogen is derived, are categorised by colour tabs.
Hydrogen produced from fossil fuels is called grey hydrogen; this constitutes the bulk of the hydrogen produced today.
Hydrogen generated from fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage options is called blue hydrogen;
Hydrogen generated entirely from renewable power sources is called green hydrogen. In the last process, electricity generated from renewable energy is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched.
4. Consider the following statements regarding Biofuels:
1. The most common kinds of biofuels in use today are ethanol and biodiesel that represent the first generation of biofuel technology.
2. Ethanol is renewable and made from different kinds of plant materials.
3. Biodiesel is produced by combining alcohol with new and used vegetable oils and animal fats.
4. Biofuels cannot be used as rocket fuels since they have high viscosity.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a)Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Answer: (C)
Explanation: On January 31, Stardust 1.0 was launched from Loring Commerce Centre in Maine, US, becoming the first commercial space launch powered by biofuel, which is non-toxic for the environment as opposed to traditionally used rocket fuels. Biofuels are obtained from biomass, which can be converted directly into liquid fuels that can be used as transportation fuels. The two most common kinds of biofuels in use today are ethanol and biodiesel and they both represent the first generation of biofuel technology. Ethanol, for instance, is renewable and made from different kinds of plant materials. Biodiesel on the other hand is produced by combining alcohol with new and used vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled cooking grease. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.
5.Consider the following statements regarding Block Chain Technology:
1.It is a time-stamped series of immutable record of data that is managed by cluster of computers not owned by any single entity.
2. The blockchain network has no central authority.
3. It carries no transaction cost.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (D)
Explanation: A blockchain is, in the simplest of terms, a time-stamped series of immutable record of data that is managed by cluster of computers not owned by any single entity. Each of these blocks of data (i.e. block) are secured and bound to each other using cryptographic principles (i.e. chain). The blockchain network has no central authority — it is the very definition of a democratized system. Since it is a shared and immutable ledger, the information in it is open for anyone and everyone to see. A blockchain carries no transaction cost. (An infrastructure cost yes, but no transaction cost.) Hence, all statements are correct.
