Explanation: The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) holds the record as the largest mammal and the largest living organism on Earth. Adult blue whales can reach lengths of up to 30 meters (98 feet) and weigh over 180 tons. Despite their size, they feed mainly on small shrimp-like creatures called krill, filtering them through their baleen plates. Whales are warm-blooded, breathe air through blowholes, and give birth to live young — all key mammalian traits.

Comparison:

• Blue whale (largest mammal): up to 30 m long, ~180 tons
• African elephant (largest land mammal): up to 4 m tall, ~6 tons
• Rhinoceros: up to 2 m tall, ~2 tons

Explanation: In household electrical wiring, all the given statements are correct: the red insulated wire is the live (phase) wire, the black insulated wire is the neutral wire, and the green insulated wire is used for earthing to ensure safety by preventing electric shocks.

Biogas is a source of non-conventional (renewable) energy. It is produced through the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste materials such as animal dung, crop residues, and kitchen waste. Biogas mainly contains methane (CH₄) and is used as a clean fuel for cooking, lighting, and even power generation. It helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels and minimizes environmental pollution.

Other options (for context)

• Firewood: A traditional biomass fuel, not classified as a modern non-conventional source.
• Diesel: A conventional fossil fuel derived from crude oil.
• Petrol: Another conventional fossil fuel obtained from petroleum refining.

Explanation: The tusks of elephants are actually modified second upper incisors. They are made primarily of dentine, commonly known as ivory, and covered by a thin layer of enamel at the tip (which wears off with time). Tusks grow continuously throughout the elephant’s life and are used for digging, lifting objects, stripping bark, defense, and dominance displays.

Note: Both male and female African elephants have tusks, whereas in Asian elephants, tusks are generally present only in males.

Composition: Tusks are composed of dentine (ivory) with fine concentric growth lines, and they grow from sockets in the skull.

Explanation: Sound waves are not electromagnetic waves; they are mechanical waves that require a material medium (like air, water, or solids) for propagation. In contrast, radio waves, X-rays, and visible light are electromagnetic waves that can travel through a vacuum.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a numerical scale used to measure and report the quality of air in a particular area. It primarily indicates the level of air pollution and its potential impact on human health. The AQI is calculated based on concentrations of key air pollutants — including ozone (O₃), particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO). Higher AQI values indicate poorer air quality and greater health risks.

Other options (for context)

Methane (CH₄) is not an allotrope of carbon. It is a chemical compound made up of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. In contrast, allotropes are different structural forms of the same element in the same physical state. Carbon has several allotropes, including diamond, graphite, and fullerene (C-60), which differ in atomic arrangement and physical properties.

Other options (for context)

• Diamond: An allotrope of carbon where each carbon atom is tetrahedrally bonded to four others, making it extremely hard.
• Graphite: An allotrope of carbon with layers of hexagonally arranged atoms; good conductor of electricity.
• C-60 (Fullerene): A spherical allotrope of carbon consisting of 60 atoms arranged like a soccer ball.

The gravitational force of the Earth is maximum at the poles and minimum at the equator. This happens because the Earth is not a perfect sphere; it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulged at the equator due to its rotation. The distance from the center of the Earth to the poles is slightly less than that to the equator, resulting in a stronger gravitational pull at the poles.

Other options (for context)

• At equator: Gravity is slightly weaker because of the Earth's bulge and centrifugal force due to rotation.
• At tropic of cancer: Gravity here is intermediate, not maximum.
• At tropic of Capricorn: Same as the Tropic of Cancer — gravity is moderate, not maximum.