Question
UPSC Prelims 2017 Question:
The terms ‘Event Horizon’, ‘Singularity’, ‘String Theory’ and ‘Standard Model’ are sometimes seen in the news in the context of:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Detailed Solution
Explanation:
- The terms ‘Event Horizon’, ‘Singularity’, ‘String Theory’ and ‘Standard Model’ are seen in the news in respect of the observation and understanding of the Universe.
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Event Horizon |
It is the threshold around the Black Hole where the escape velocity surpasses the speed of light. |
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Singularity |
Singularities can happen anywhere, and they are surprisingly common in the mathematics that physicists use to understand the universe. Put simply, singularities are places where the mathematics "misbehave," typically by generating infinitely large values. There are examples of mathematical singularities throughout physics: Typically, any time an equation uses 1/X, as X goes to zero, the value of the equation goes to infinity. |
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String Theory |
It is the idea in theoretical physics that reality is made up of infinitesimal vibrating strings, smaller than atoms, electrons or quarks. According to this theory, as the strings vibrate, twist and fold, they produce effects in many, tiny dimensions that humans interpret as everything from particle physics to large-scale phenomena like gravity. |
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Standard Model |
It explains three of the four fundamental forces that govern the universe: electromagnetism, the strong force, and the weak force |
Therefore, option (1) is the correct answer.
Subject: Science & Technology | Physics
Last updated on January, 2026