Day-550 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | GENERAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS

Answer: C
Explanation
We know that 65% of the human body is oxygen. Oxygen is vital for respiration, the process that transfers energy from glucose to cells. In fact, every cell in our body requires oxygen. When we breathe air in, oxygen molecules enter the lungs and pass through the lung walls into our blood.
● Statement 1 is correct: There are various methods through which Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) can be produced. The most common production method is the separation of oxygen in Air Separation Units (ASUs). This is also known as Fractional Distillation method.
Fractional Distillation method
The various gases constituting atmospheric air are separated into different components after cooling them into a liquid state. Liquid oxygen is then extracted from it.
Other Method – Pressure Swing Adsorption Technique
This method leverages the property that under high pressure, gases tend to be attracted to solid surfaces. This process is known as adsorption. The higher the pressure, the more the adsorption of gas.
● Statement 2 is correct: Since there is no air in space, water is broken down using electricity in a process known as electrolysis of water. This generates 100% pure oxygen.

Answer: A
Explanation
Frame rate is the number of individual video frames that your camera captures, per second. In video production, a video’s frame rate is expressed as frames per second (fps).
Standard Frame Rates:
24fps: Cinematic Standard
30fps: Video Standard
60fps: Slow-Motion Standard

● Statement 1 is correct: A slow motion camera has a frame rate of at least 60 fps. Ultra Slow-Motion Cameras, used in sports and movie production, have a very high frame rate of 1000 fps or even more.
● Statement 1 is correct and is the correct explanation of statement 1: Higher frame rate means more individual frames can be captured. This is used to smoothen the video as more subtle movements are better captured. This also reduces stuttering of videos and thus videos appear smoother at a higher frame rate. That is why a slow-motion camera has a higher frame rate.

Answer: C
Explanation
Recently researchers have discovered a unique particle, known as a “demon particle”, within a metal called Strontium Ruthenate. This discovery has the potential to develop superconductors capable of operating at room temperature. They are composite particles made up of a combination of electrons. Demon particles were first predicted by theoretical physicist David Pines in 1956.
● Statement 1 is correct: Demon Particles are transparent, so they are tough to be excited by photonic energy and do not interact with light.
● Statement 2 is correct: Demon particles are chargeless as well as massless particles. Due to these properties, they are not detected under the effects of electric or magnetic fields. Due to absence of interaction with light, electric or magnetic fields, they are termed Demon Particles.

Answer: A
Explanation
Wind tunnels are machines where an object is held stationary inside a tube, and air is blown around it to study the interaction between the object and the moving air. They are used to test the aerodynamic effects of aircraft, rockets, cars, and buildings. Most of the time, powerful fans move air through the tube. The object to be tested is fastened in the tunnel so that it will not move. The air moving around the still object shows what would happen if the object were moving through the air. How the air moves can be studied in different ways. Smoke or dye can be placed in the air and can be seen as it moves. Threads can be attached to the object to show how the air is moving. Special instruments are often used to measure the force of the air on the object.

Answer: C
Explanation
● Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) launched Red Line awareness campaign in 2016 on Antimicrobials Resistance, urging people not to use medicines marked with a red vertical line, including antibiotics, without a doctor’s prescription.

● Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has released treatment guidelines for antimicrobial use in common syndromes which contain guidelines for use of antibiotics for viral bronchitis and low-grade fever.
● Antibiotics are included in Schedule H and H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945. These drugs have specific caution labeling requirements and are sold only under the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner.
About Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
Antimicrobials – including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics – are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals, and plants. Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.