Explanation: A light year is a unit used to measure stellar or astronomical distances. It is defined as the distance that light travels in one year in a vacuum. Since light moves at a speed of about 3 × 10⁸ m/s, one light year equals approximately 9.46 × 10¹² km. It is commonly used to express distances between stars and galaxies because these distances are too large to be measured in kilometers or miles.

Explanation: A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network of computers and peripherals confined to a small geographical area, such as a home, school, or office building. It enables resource sharing, file transfer, and communication among connected devices within the limited range.

Explanation: The full form of GPS is Global Positioning System. It is a satellite-based navigation system that provides accurate information about the location, speed, and time anywhere on Earth. Developed by the U.S. Department of Defense, GPS uses a network of at least 24 satellites orbiting the Earth. It is widely used in navigation, mapping, military operations, aviation, and smartphone tracking applications.

Explanation: Sound travels fastest in steel because it is a solid material where the particles are packed very closely together. Sound waves need a medium to travel, and their speed depends on how quickly vibrations can pass from one particle to another. In solids, particles are tightly bound, so vibrations are transmitted more efficiently. In contrast, sound travels slower in liquids and slowest in gases. It cannot travel through a vacuum because there are no particles to carry the vibrations.

Explanation: Bullets are typically made of lead or lead alloys because lead is dense and malleable. When bullets remain lodged in the body, they can corrode over time and release lead ions into surrounding tissues and blood, resulting in chronic lead poisoning (plumbism). Symptoms include abdominal pain, anemia, fatigue, headache, irritability, and neurological disorders. In severe cases, it may cause kidney and brain damage.

Prevention: Complete removal of bullet fragments and regular monitoring of blood lead levels in affected individuals are essential to prevent toxicity.

Explanation: Electrons are negatively charged particles that revolve around the nucleus in fixed paths called orbits or shells. The nucleus contains positively charged protons and neutral neutrons, and most of the atom’s mass is concentrated in the nucleus.

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.

Explanation: Oceans contain the maximum amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) on Earth. They act as the largest carbon sink, absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere and storing it in dissolved form or as carbonates. This helps regulate the global carbon cycle and maintain atmospheric balance.