Explanation: The angle of friction and the angle of repose are equal to each other. The angle of friction is the angle made by the resultant of the limiting friction and normal reaction with the normal force, while the angle of repose is the maximum angle of an inclined plane at which an object just begins to slide. Both represent the same physical condition of impending motion.

Explanation: The thyroid gland is the largest endocrine gland in the body. It is a butterfly-shaped gland situated in the neck region, just below the larynx. It secretes the hormones thyroxine (T₄) and triiodothyronine (T₃), which control metabolism, growth, and energy utilization. The thyroid also produces calcitonin, which helps regulate calcium levels in the blood.

Functions of the Thyroid Gland:

• Regulates metabolic rate (BMR)
• Influences growth and development
• Maintains body temperature and energy balance
• Regulates calcium metabolism via calcitonin

Disorders:

• Hypothyroidism: Leads to goitre, myxedema, or cretinism
• Hyperthyroidism: Leads to weight loss, anxiety, and increased heart rate

William Harvey, an English physician, discovered the process of blood circulation in 1628. He demonstrated that the heart acts as a pump to circulate blood continuously throughout the body via a closed system of arteries and veins. His work, published in "De Motu Cordis" (On the Motion of the Heart and Blood), laid the foundation for modern cardiovascular physiology.

Other options (for context)

• Mary Anderson: Invented the windshield wiper, not related to medicine.
• Virginia Apgar: Developed the Apgar score for assessing newborn health.
• Robert Feulgen: Discovered a staining technique for DNA, not blood circulation.

Explanation: Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a base, so it does not turn blue litmus paper red. Instead, it turns red litmus paper blue. In contrast, lemon juice, acetic acid, and hydrochloric acid are acidic and turn blue litmus red.

Explanation: Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals once widely used in construction and insulation. When inhaled, asbestos fibers accumulate in the lungs and pleura, leading to inflammation and scarring over years. This chronic exposure can cause asbestosis (lung fibrosis) and mesothelioma — a deadly cancer of the membrane lining the lungs (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum).

Explanation: The intensity and magnitude of an earthquake are measured using a scientific instrument called a seismograph. It records the vibrations or seismic waves produced by earthquakes. The data obtained from a seismograph are used to calculate the earthquake’s strength on scales such as the Richter Scale or the Moment Magnitude Scale. The seismogram (the recorded graph) shows the amplitude and duration of the waves, helping scientists locate the earthquake’s epicenter and determine its severity.

The purity of milk is tested using a Lactometer. It works on the principle of Archimedes’ principle and is used to measure the specific gravity (density) of milk. Pure milk has a specific gravity ranging between 1.026 and 1.032. If water or other substances are added, the density decreases, indicating adulteration. The lactometer thus helps determine whether the milk is pure or diluted.

Other options (for context)

• Electrometer: Measures electric potential or charge, not related to milk testing.
• Radiometer: Measures radiant energy or light intensity.
• Refractometer: Used to measure refractive index, commonly for sugar solutions, not milk purity.

Insulin was discovered by Frederick Banting and Charles Best in 1921 at the University of Toronto. Banting and his team successfully isolated insulin from the pancreas, which became a breakthrough in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. For this discovery, Frederick Banting and J.J.R. Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1923.

Other options (for context)

• Jonas E. Salk: Discovered the first successful polio vaccine.
• Alexander Fleming: Discovered penicillin, the first antibiotic.
• Roentgen: Discovered X-rays in 1895.

Explanation: The spectrophotometer measures bacterial growth by determining the optical density (OD) or turbidity of a culture. As bacteria multiply, the suspension becomes more turbid and absorbs more light. The absorbance value is proportional to the number of bacterial cells present.