Practice Physical Science MCQs for FPSC General Duty (BS-14) Everyday Science — topic-wise sets with solved answers.
Q1. Sound travels fastest in:
Answer: Solid
Explanation: Solid is the scientifically accurate choice. The concept tested here is core everyday science for MDCAT, ECAT, and general ability papers.
Q2. The most abundant element in the Earth's crust is:
Answer: Oxygen
Explanation: Oxygen is the most abundant element in the Earth's crust by mass, making up about 46% of crustal weight, primarily in the form of oxides and silicates.
Q3. Which of the following is an organic molecule needed by the body in small amounts?
Answer: Vitamin C
Explanation: Vitamins are organic micronutrients required in small amounts for normal metabolic function; Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a classic example of such an organic molecule.
Q4. Existence of an element in more than one form in the same physical state is called:
Answer: Allotropy
Explanation: Allotropy is the scientifically accurate choice. The concept tested here is core everyday science for MDCAT, ECAT, and general ability papers.
Q5. What is the subatomic particle detected for the first time in 2015 by the European Organization for Nuclear Research?
Answer: Pentaquark
Explanation: In July 2015, CERN's LHCb experiment announced the discovery of pentaquarks - exotic hadrons composed of five quarks - not previously observed as a stable particle state.
Q6. Which of the following elements is not present abundantly in the Earth's crust?
Answer: Radium
Explanation: Radium is an extremely rare radioactive element with a crustal abundance of only about 1 part per trillion, far less abundant than silicon, aluminum, or carbon.
Q7. Fiber optics are primarily used in which field?
Answer: Telecommunication
Explanation: Telecommunication is the scientifically accurate choice. The concept tested here is core everyday science for MDCAT, ECAT, and general ability papers.
Q8. An ice mass that covers more than 50,000 square kilometers of land area is classified as an:
Answer: Ice sheet
Explanation: An ice sheet is defined as a continental glacier covering more than 50,000 km²; the two existing ice sheets are in Antarctica and Greenland.
Q9. The instrument used to measure the velocity of wind is a barometer.
Answer: Wrong
Explanation: Wind velocity is measured by an anemometer, not a barometer; a barometer measures atmospheric pressure.
Q10. In a fission nuclear reaction, a heavy nucleus breaks up into smaller nuclei. In contrast, when two or more lighter nuclei fuse to form a heavier nucleus, the reaction is called a:
Answer: Fusion nuclear reaction
Explanation: Nuclear fusion is the reaction in which two or more light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing enormous energy - the process that powers the Sun.
Q11. Sound travels faster in iron than in air.
Answer: Right
Explanation: Sound travels at approximately 5,120 m/s in iron compared to only 343 m/s in air, because solids have stronger intermolecular bonds that transmit vibrations more efficiently.
Q12. The second most abundant element found in the Earth's crust is:
Answer: Silicon
Explanation: Silicon is the second most abundant element in Earth's crust at about 28% by mass, after oxygen (~46%), existing mainly as silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and silicate minerals.
Q13. The speed of sound is maximum through which of the following?
Answer: Glass
Explanation: Sound travels fastest through glass among the listed options because glass is a rigid solid with high elastic modulus; sound speed in glass is about 5,640 m/s.
Q14. Which mirror is used in the headlights of cars?
Answer: Concave
Explanation: Concave is the scientifically accurate choice. The concept tested here is core everyday science for MDCAT, ECAT, and general ability papers.
Q15. ______ is an instrument for measuring a small electric current.
Answer: Galvanometer
Explanation: A galvanometer is a sensitive electromagnetic instrument used to detect and measure very small electric currents by deflecting a needle proportional to current flow.
Q16. Though the temperature inside a lighted electric bulb is around 2700°C, the filament does not burn because:
Answer: The oxygen necessary for combustion (and burning) is not available as the bulb is evacuated and filled with pure nitrogen or inert gases
Explanation: The bulb is filled with nitrogen or inert gases (like argon) instead of oxygen; without oxygen, the tungsten filament cannot undergo combustion even at temperatures exceeding 2,700°C.
Q17. In which medium does sound travel fastest?
Answer: Steel
Explanation: Sound travels fastest in steel (approximately 5,960 m/s) because the high density and elastic modulus of steel allow sound waves to propagate with minimal energy loss.
Q18. Which part of a plant is particularly in need of phosphorus for its growth?
Answer: Root
Explanation: Phosphorus is essential for root development as it promotes cell division, energy transfer (ATP), and the formation of root tips, making roots particularly dependent on it.
Q19. The waves used for sending signals to a satellite from a ground station are:
Answer: Microwaves
Explanation: Microwaves (GHz frequency range) are used to communicate with satellites because they can penetrate Earth's atmosphere with minimal absorption and travel in line-of-sight paths.
Q20. Sound cannot travel through a:
Answer: Vacuum
Explanation: Sound requires a material medium to travel; in a vacuum there are no molecules to carry mechanical vibrations, so sound cannot propagate.
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