Detailed set multiple-choice questions (MCQs) for the National Science Olympiad (NSO) for Classes 9 and 10

The National Science Olympiad (NSO) is a prestigious annual competition aimed at enhancing students' understanding and interest in science. Open to students from Classes 1 to 12, the NSO challenges participants with questions covering various scientific disciplines, including physics, chemistry, biology, and earth sciences. The Olympiad tests students' knowledge and problem-solving skills, fostering a deeper appreciation for science and encouraging academic excellence. It is organized by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) and serves as a platform for students to demonstrate their scientific acumen and compete at regional and national levels.

 Physics

1.1 What is the unit of electrical resistance?

A. Volt

B. Ampere

C. Ohm

D. Watt

1.2 A car accelerates from 0 to 60 m/s in 10 seconds. What is its acceleration?

A. 6 m/s²

B. 3 m/s²

C. 10 m/s²

D. 5 m/s²

1.3 The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be:

A. Created or destroyed

B. Transferred from one form to another

C. Stored

D. Converted

1.4 A body is said to be in equilibrium if:

A. It is at rest

B. The sum of all forces acting on it is zero

C. The sum of all torques acting on it is zero

D. All of the above

1.5 Which of the following is not a fundamental force in nature?

A. Gravitational force

B. Electromagnetic force

C. Nuclear force

D. Frictional force

Chemistry

2.1 What is the pH of a neutral solution?

A. 0

B. 7

C. 14

D. 5

2.2 Which of the following is an example of a covalent bond?

A. Na-Cl

B. Mg-O

C. H-H

D. Na-K

2.3 What is the atomic number of Carbon?

A. 6

B. 8

C. 12

D. 14

2.4 Which of the following elements is a noble gas?

A. Nitrogen

B. Oxygen

C. Argon

D. Hydrogen

2.5 What is the chemical formula for sulfuric acid?

A. HCl

B. H₂SO₄

C. HNO₃

D. H₂CO₃

Biology

3.1 Which organ in the human body is primarily responsible for detoxification?

A. Heart

B. Liver

C. Lungs

D. Kidneys

3.2 What is the basic unit of life?

A. Atom

B. Molecule

C. Cell

D. Tissue

3.3 What process do plants use to make food?

A. Respiration

B. Photosynthesis

C. Digestion

D. Transpiration

3.4 Which part of the cell contains genetic material?

A. Cytoplasm

B. Ribosomes

C. Nucleus

D. Mitochondria

3.5 What type of bond holds the two strands of a DNA molecule together?

A. Ionic bond

B. Covalent bond

C. Hydrogen bond

D. Metallic bond

Earth Sciences

4.1 What layer of the Earth is known for its liquid state?

A. Crust

B. Mantle

C. Outer core

D. Inner core

4.2 What type of rock is formed by cooling and solidification of magma?

A. Sedimentary

B. Metamorphic

C. Igneous

D. Organic

4.3 Which gas is primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect?

A. Oxygen

B. Carbon Dioxide

C. Nitrogen

D. Hydrogen

4.4 What is the process of water cycle called where water vapor turns back into liquid water?

A. Evaporation

B. Condensation

C. Precipitation

D. Infiltration

4.5 Which layer of the atmosphere is closest to the Earth's surface?

A. Stratosphere

B. Mesosphere

C. Troposphere

D. Thermosphere

Answers

1.1 C. Ohm

1.2 A. 6 m/s²

1.3 A. Created or destroyed

1.4 D. All of the above

1.5 D. Frictional force

2.1 B. 7

2.2 C. H-H

2.3 A. 6

2.4 C. Argon

2.5 B. H₂SO₄

3.1 B. Liver

3.2 C. Cell

3.3 B. Photosynthesis

3.4 C. Nucleus

3.5 C. Hydrogen bond

4.1 C. Outer core

4.2 C. Igneous

4.3 B. Carbon Dioxide

4.4 B. Condensation

4.5 C. Troposphere

HOTS Section 

Advanced Physics

1.1 What is the maximum number of electrons that can occupy a shell with the principal quantum number n = 4?

A. 8

B. 18

C. 32

D. 20

1.2 If a force of 10 N is applied at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal, what is the horizontal component of the force?

A. 5 N

B. 8.66 N

C. 10 N

D. 3 N

1.3 In the photoelectric effect, the energy of the emitted electrons depends on:

A. The intensity of the incident light

B. The frequency of the incident light

C. The color of the incident light

D. The temperature of the light source

1.4 The period of a simple pendulum depends on:

A. The mass of the pendulum

B. The length of the pendulum

C. The amplitude of the pendulum's swing

D. The gravitational acceleration

1.5 An ideal gas undergoes an isothermal expansion. Which of the following is constant during this process?

A. Volume

B. Pressure

C. Temperature

D. Internal energy

Advanced Chemistry

2.1 What is the standard enthalpy change for the formation of 1 mole of ethanol from its elements in their standard states?

A. -277 kJ/mol

B. -277.8 kJ/mol

C. -300 kJ/mol

D. -298 kJ/mol

2.2 Which of the following elements has the highest first ionization energy?

A. Sodium

B. Magnesium

C. Aluminium

D. Fluorine

2.3 In the context of chemical kinetics, what does the rate constant of a reaction with an order of 2 have the units of?

A. L·mol⁻¹·s⁻¹

B. s⁻¹

C. mol·L⁻¹

D. L²·mol⁻²·s⁻¹

2.4 Which is the correct expression for the equilibrium constant Kp in terms of partial pressures for the reaction: aA(g) + bB(g) ⇌ cC(g) + dD(g)?

A. Kp = (P_C^c * P_D^d) / (P_A^a * P_B^b)

B. Kp = (P_A^a * P_B^b) / (P_C^c * P_D^d)

C. Kp = (P_A^a * P_D^d) / (P_B^b * P_C^c)

D. Kp = (P_C^c * P_B^b) / (P_A^a * P_D^d)

2.5 The rate of a reaction is given by rate = k[A][B]². What is the order of the reaction with respect to A and B?

A. 1

B. 2

C. 3

D. 4

Advanced Biology

3.1 Which of the following processes is responsible for the production of ATP in mitochondria?

A. Glycolysis

B. Citric acid cycle

C. Electron transport chain

D. Fermentation

3.2 In genetics, what is the term for the observable characteristics or traits of an organism?

A. Genotype

B. Allele

C. Phenotype

D. Karyotype

3.3 What is the role of ribosomes in a cell?

A. Energy production

B. Protein synthesis

C. Genetic material storage

D. Cellular respiration

3.4 During which phase of mitosis do the chromosomes line up at the equatorial plane of the cell?

A. Prophase

B. Metaphase

C. Anaphase

D. Telophase

3.5 What is the function of the lysosome in a cell?

A. Photosynthesis

B. Digestion of cellular waste

C. Protein synthesis

D. Energy production

Advanced Earth Sciences

4.1 Which mineral is the most abundant in the Earth's crust?

A. Quartz

B. Feldspar

C. Mica

D. Olivine

4.2 What is the primary cause of tectonic plate movement?

A. Gravitational forces

B. Ocean currents

C. Convection currents in the mantle

D. Earth's magnetic field

4.3 The theory of plate tectonics explains the formation of:

A. Mountains

B. Earthquakes

C. Volcanic activity

D. All of the above

4.4 What is the Richter scale used to measure?

A. The intensity of earthquakes

B. The speed of tectonic plate movement

C. The depth of ocean trenches

D. The age of rocks

4.5 Which type of rock forms from the cooling and solidification of lava?

A. Sedimentary

B. Metamorphic

C. Igneous

D. Organic

Answers

1.1 C. 32

1.2 B. 8.66 N

1.3 B. The frequency of the incident light

1.4 B. The length of the pendulum

1.5 C. Temperature

2.1 B. -277.8 kJ/mol

2.2 D. Fluorine

2.3 A. L·mol⁻¹·s⁻¹

2.4 A. Kp = (P_C^c * P_D^d) / (P_A^a * P_B^b)

2.5 C. 3

3.1 C. Electron transport chain

3.2 C. Phenotype

3.3 B. Protein synthesis

3.4 B. Metaphase

3.5 B. Digestion of cellular waste

4.1 B. Feldspar

4.2 C. Convection currents in the mantle

4.3 D. All of the above

4.4 A. The intensity of earthquakes

4.5 C. Igneous

Thank you for taking the time to tackle these challenging problems. We hope you found the questions stimulating and insightful. Best of luck with your studies and future endeavors—may your efforts lead to great success and understanding. Keep up the excellent work and continue to embrace the wonders of science! 🤞