Environmental Physics MCQs with Answers
What is the primary greenhouse gas responsible for global warming?
a) Carbon dioxide (CO2)
b) Methane (CH4)
c) Nitrous oxide (N2O)
d) Ozone (O3)
Answer: a) Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Which air pollutant is primarily responsible for acid rain?
a) Carbon monoxide (CO)
b) Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
c) Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
d) Particulate matter (PM)
Answer: b) Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
What is the main source of indoor air pollution?
a) Outdoor air pollution
b) Household cleaning products
c) Radon gas
d) Mold and mildew
Answer: b) Household cleaning products
Which of the following is a renewable energy source?
a) Coal
b) Natural gas
c) Solar power
d) Nuclear power
Answer: c) Solar power
What is the process by which plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen?
a) Photosynthesis
b) Respiration
c) Transpiration
d) Evaporation
Answer: a) Photosynthesis
What is the major cause of ozone depletion in the stratosphere?
a) Carbon dioxide emissions
b) Methane emissions
c) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
d) Nitrous oxide emissions
Answer: c) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Which of the following is a non-renewable resource?
a) Wind energy
b) Geothermal energy
c) Fossil fuels
d) Biomass
Answer: c) Fossil fuels
What is the term for the gradual increase in Earth’s average temperature due to human activities?
a) Acid rain
b) Global warming
c) Ozone depletion
d) Greenhouse effect
Answer: b) Global warming
Which of the following is a major contributor to air pollution in urban areas?
a) Industrial emissions
b) Agricultural activities
c) Deforestation
d) Volcanic eruptions
Answer: a) Industrial emissions
What is the term for the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
Answer: b) Evaporation
Which of the following is a primary source of water pollution?
a) Household waste
b) Agricultural runoff
c) Industrial discharge
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
What is the term for the gradual increase in Earth’s surface temperature caused by the greenhouse effect?
a) Acidification
b) Desertification
c) Melting
d) Global warming
Answer: d) Global warming
Which of the following is a major greenhouse gas released by agricultural activities?
a) Carbon dioxide (CO2)
b) Methane (CH4)
c) Nitrous oxide (N2O)
d) Carbon monoxide (CO)
Answer: b) Methane (CH4)
What is the term for the process by which water vapor in the atmosphere turns into liquid water?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
Answer: a) Condensation
Which of the following is a renewable resource?
a) Natural gas
b) Petroleum
c) Uranium
d) Wind energy
Answer: d) Wind energy
What is the term for the process by which pollutants are removed from the atmosphere through rainfall?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Wet deposition
Answer: d) Wet deposition
Which of the following is a major contributor to soil erosion?
a) Deforestation
b) Urbanization
c) Overgrazing
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
What is the term for the loss of biodiversity due to human activities?
a) Pollution
b) Habitat destruction
c) Desertification
d) Extinction
Answer: b) Habitat destruction
Which of the following is a renewable resource?
a) Natural gas
b) Coal
c) Solar energy
d) Uranium
Answer: c) Solar energy
What is the term for the process by which pollutants are absorbed and retained by plants?
a) Absorption
b) Adsorption
c) Desorption
d) Decomposition
Answer: b) Adsorption
Which of the following is a major source of water pollution in developing countries?
a) Industrial discharge
b) Agricultural runoff
c) Improper sanitation practices
d) Oil spills
Answer: c) Improper sanitation practices
What is the term for the process by which carbon is transferred from living organisms to the atmosphere?
a) Respiration
b) Combustion
c) Decomposition
d) Photosynthesis
Answer: a) Respiration
Which of the following is a major contributor to indoor air pollution?
a) Carbon monoxide (CO)
b) Radon gas
c) Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
What is the term for the gradual increase in Earth’s average temperature due to natural factors?
a) Acidification
b) Desertification
c) Melting
d) Climate change
Answer: d) Climate change
Which of the following is a renewable resource?
a) Natural gas
b) Petroleum
c) Biomass
d) Coal
Answer: c) Biomass
What is the term for the process by which pollutants are converted into less harmful substances?
a) Combustion
b) Oxidation
c) Reduction
d) Degradation
Answer: d) Degradation
Which of the following is a major cause of soil erosion?
a) Deforestation
b) Urbanization
c) Overirrigation
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
What is the term for the process by which water falls from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
Answer: d) Precipitation
Which of the following is a major contributor to water pollution in industrial areas?
a) Agricultural runoff
b) Oil spills
c) Improper waste disposal
d) Deforestation
Answer: c) Improper waste disposal
What is the term for the process by which water moves from the Earth’s surface to the atmosphere?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
Answer: b) Evaporation
Which of the following is a major cause of deforestation?
a) Urbanization
b) Agriculture
c) Logging
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
What is the term for the process by which pollutants are carried away from their source by wind or water?
a) Erosion
b) Dispersion
c) Transport
d) Migration
Answer: c) Transport
Which of the following is a major source of water pollution in agricultural areas?
a) Industrial discharge
b) Oil spills
c) Fertilizer runoff
d) Improper waste disposal
Answer: c) Fertilizer runoff
What is the term for the process by which pollutants settle onto the Earth’s surface?
a) Deposition
b) Absorption
c) Adsorption
d) Desorption
Answer: a) Deposition
Which of the following is a major cause of groundwater pollution?
a) Surface water contamination
b) Industrial discharge
c) Underground storage tanks
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
What is the term for the gradual increase in Earth’s average temperature due to changes in solar radiation?
a) Acidification
b) Desertification
c) Melting
d) Solar warming
Answer: d) Solar warming
Which of the following is a major contributor to air pollution in rural areas?
a) Vehicle emissions
b) Agricultural activities
c) Power plant emissions
d) Industrial discharge
Answer: b) Agricultural activities
What is the term for the process by which water is absorbed and released by plants?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
Answer: c) Transpiration
Which of the following is a major source of water pollution in urban areas?
a) Agricultural runoff
b) Oil spills
c) Sewage discharge
d) Deforestation
Answer: c) Sewage discharge
What is the term for the process by which pollutants are broken down into simpler substances by natural processes?
a) Combustion
b) Oxidation
c) Reduction
d) Decomposition
Answer: d) Decomposition
Which of the following is a major cause of desertification?
a) Deforestation
b) Urbanization
c) Overgrazing
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
What is the term for the process by which water is converted from a gas to a liquid or solid form?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
Answer: a) Condensation
Which of the following is a major contributor to air pollution indoors?
a) Tobacco smoke
b) Radon gas
c) Formaldehyde
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
What is the term for the gradual increase in Earth’s average temperature due to changes in the Earth’s orbit?
a) Acidification
b) Desertification
c) Melting
d) Orbital warming
Answer: d) Orbital warming
Which of the following is a major contributor to water pollution in coastal areas?
a) Agricultural runoff
b) Oil spills
c) Marine dumping
d) Deforestation
Answer: c) Marine dumping
What is the term for the process by which pollutants are carried through the air over long distances?
a) Erosion
b) Dispersion
c) Transport
d) Migration
Answer: d) Migration
Which of the following is a major cause of air pollution in residential areas?
a) Vehicle emissions
b) Indoor cooking and heating
c) Power plant emissions
d) Industrial discharge
Answer: b) Indoor cooking and heating
What is the term for the process by which water returns to the Earth’s surface in the form of rain, snow, or hail?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
Answer: d) Precipitation
Which of the following is a major source of water pollution in recreational areas?
a) Agricultural runoff
b) Oil spills
c) Recreational activities
d) Deforestation
Answer: c) Recreational activities
What is the term for the process by which pollutants are removed from the atmosphere through chemical reactions?
a) Combustion
b) Oxidation
c) Reduction
d) Deposition
Answer: b) Oxidation
Which of the following is a major contributor to air pollution in industrial areas?
a) Vehicle emissions
b) Agricultural activities
c) Power plant emissions
d) Forest fires
Answer: c) Power plant emissions
What is the term for the process by which water moves through plants and evaporates from their leaves?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
Answer: c) Transpiration
Which of the following is a major cause of water pollution in developing countries?
a) Industrial discharge
b) Oil spills
c) Lack of sanitation infrastructure
d) Deforestation
Answer: c) Lack of sanitation infrastructure
What is the term for the process by which carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels?
a) Respiration
b) Combustion
c) Decomposition
d) Photosynthesis
Answer: b) Combustion
Which of the following is a major source of water pollution in agricultural areas?
a) Industrial discharge
b) Oil spills
c) Pesticide runoff
d) Deforestation
Answer: c) Pesticide runoff
What is the term for the process by which pollutants are carried away by runoff from rain or snow?
a) Erosion
b) Dispersion
c) Transport
d) Runoff
Answer: d) Runoff
Which of the following is a major contributor to air pollution in urban areas?
a) Vehicle emissions
b) Agricultural activities
c) Power plant emissions
d) Volcanic eruptions
Answer: a) Vehicle emissions
What is the term for the process by which water vapor in the atmosphere turns into liquid water?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
Answer: a) Condensation
Which of the following is a major cause of soil erosion?
a) Deforestation
b) Urbanization
c) Overgrazing
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
What is the term for the process by which pollutants are carried away from their source by wind or water?
a) Erosion
b) Dispersion
c) Transport
d) Migration
Answer: c) Transport
Which of the following is a major contributor to water pollution in industrial areas?
a) Agricultural runoff
b) Oil spills
c) Industrial discharge
d) Deforestation
Answer: c) Industrial discharge
What is the term for the process by which water falls from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
Answer: d) Precipitation
Which of the following is a major cause of deforestation?
a) Urbanization
b) Agriculture
c) Logging
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
What is the term for the process by which pollutants settle onto the Earth’s surface?
a) Deposition
b) Absorption
c) Adsorption
d) Desorption
Answer: a) Deposition
Which of the following is a major contributor to groundwater pollution?
a) Surface water contamination
b) Industrial discharge
c) Underground storage tanks
d) Deforestation
Answer: c) Underground storage tanks
What is the term for the process by which carbon is transferred from living organisms to the atmosphere?
a) Respiration
b) Combustion
c) Decomposition
d) Photosynthesis
Answer: a) Respiration
Which of the following is a major contributor to indoor air pollution?
a) Tobacco smoke
b) Radon gas
c) Formaldehyde
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
What is the term for the process by which water returns to the Earth’s surface in the form of rain, snow, or hail?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
Answer: d) Precipitation
Which of the following is a major cause of desertification?
a) Deforestation
b) Urbanization
c) Overgrazing
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
What is the term for the process by which water is converted from a gas to a liquid or solid form?
a) Condensation
b) Evaporation
c) Transpiration
d) Precipitation
Answer: a) Condensation