Correct Answer: Option 1 – the universe is at least twice as old as our solar system

The origin of universe is validated and supported by the Big Bang theory, which is believed to have occurred at least 12 billion years ago.

The Solar System is thought to be at least 4.5 billion years old. Astronomers estimate the age of the universe in two ways

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Earth rotates on its axis

Foucault pendulum is used to demonstrate the rotation of earth. it consists of a pendulum that is allowed to freely oscillate in a vertical plane.

The direction along which the pendulum swings rotates with time because of earth's daily rotation.

Hence, the other 3 options that the sun rotates on its axis or revolves around the earth or earth revolves around the sun are not proved using the Foucault pendulum.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – Larger and have lower densities

Jovian planets are also referred to as gas giants. These include Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune. They are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium and generally have low densities, rapid rotation, and deeper atmospheres. Giant planets have diameters greater than 48000 km. their position is outside compared to relative position of sun.

Hence, the options 1, 2 and 4 are incorrect.

Correct Answer: Option 4 – Sun, the moon and some stars

The Sun is the central entity around which the earth, other planets and stars revolve in their orbits. The Moon revolves around the earth. Earth also spins on its axis. The spinning of the earth on its own axis at a speed differing from the moon, sun and other stars causes the apparent rising and setting of all these entities.

Hence, option 4 constituting most the entities around the earth is the correct answer. And the other 3 options referring to only sun or moon or moon and stars are incomplete and incorrect.

Correct Answer: Option 2

Venus is the second planet from the Sun and it lies108 million km from the Sun. Venus is often referred to as our sister planet because of similarities in size, mass, density and volume. It is believed that both planets share a common origin forming at the same time around 4.5 billion years ago. Option 2 shows 2 shaded circles with similar sizes. Hence, this is the correct answer.

The other 3 options depict varying sizes of the planets earth and Venus. Hence, options 1, 3 and 4 are incorrect.

Correct Answer: Option 1

The hottest part of an average day is in mid afternoon and not at the time when the intensity of insolation is greatest. Although insolation is greatest at solar noon, earth continues to gain more energy from the sun, than it loses from surface radiation until mid noon. Hence, the correct representation of this relationship is option 1.

Correct Answer: Option 1

The mean Sun crosses the equator around 20 March at the time of the vernal equinox when its declination, right ascension, and ecliptic longitude are all zero. (The ecliptic latitude is always zero.) The March equinox marks the onset of spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern.

One of two days during a year the declination of the Sun is at the equator. The March equinox denotes the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, this date marks the first day of fall. During the March equinox, all locations on the Earth (except the poles) experience equal (12 hour) day and night. The March equinox occurs on either March 20 or 21

Correct Answer: Option 3

An observer located at A on earth will get a view of M3 which faces the earth. Hence, option 3 is the correct answer.

Hence, options 1, 2 and 4 are incorrect.

Correct Answer: Option 1

The Earth's Moon is the fifth largest in the whole solar system, and is bigger than the planet Pluto. The Moon has a nearly circular orbit which is tilted about 5° to the plane of the Earth's orbit. Its average distance from the Earth is 384,400 km. The combination of the Moon's size and its distance from the Earth causes the Moon to appear the same size in the sky as the Sun, which is one reason we can have total solar eclipses.

Correct Answer: Option 4 – The moon's distance from earth varies in cyclic manner

It takes the Moon 27.322 days to go around the Earth once. Because of this motion, the Moon appears to move about 13° against the stars each day, or about one-half degree per hour. The Moon is in synchronous rotation, which means it rotates about its axis in about the same time it takes to orbit the Earth. This results in it keeping nearly the same face turned towards the Earth at all times. The Moon used to rotate at a faster rate, but early in its history, its rotation slowed and became locked in this orientation as a result of frictional effects associated with tidal deformations caused by the earth.