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Topic Air resistance
Asked 2 times across 2 UPSC exams over 45 years (1979–2024), peaking in 1979.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 1 of 2 PYQs
- Most asked in 1979
- Recurs across 2 years (1979–2024)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1979 → NDA 2024
How the concept evolved
Long-running — most appearances (1 of 2) predate 2016, and it still returns.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
NDA2024
The figure given below shows the direction of the two forces P and Q acting on a skydiver : Which one among the following statements is correct about the two forces ?
- A Force P is caused by the gravity and force Q is caused by the friction
- B When the force P is bigger than the force Q, the speed of the skydiver remains the same
- C After the parachute opens, force P remains the same while force Q increases ✓
- D After the parachute opens, force P will decrease while force Q increases
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
CSE1979
A ball bounces higher at high altitudes than in plains. This is because
- A The pressure on higher altitudes is lower than that in plains
- B Downward pull due to gravity is less at higher altitudes
- C The rarefied air offers less resistance to the ball ✓
- D You become more energetic at hills, so greater the force applied, higher goes the ball.
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
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